With the U-23’s primed at dominating the 2015 Pacific Games team, Morris didn’t hold back to say that they have a lot of work to do to be a medal chance.
That has not helped with the national’s men’s team being forced to take a back seat since playing in the 2003 South Pacific Games in Fiji.
It has been long time between drinks for the senior men’s team, but in retrospect the PNG Football Association has done its homework to concentrate in developing the new breed of talent through the ongoing youth programs and strengthening the National Soccer League with those players.
“That progression has been great but our players mid-sets must change and the eye-opener tour to Jakarta has given us welcome kick in the back-side,” Morris said.
“Bettering our technical awareness comes with playing competitively at a higher level…this isn’t something new but
something we have to work within the resources that we have,” Morris said.
“When we played the Indonesians they were composed, disciplined and well organised in their attacking lines. This can only happen with playing regular competitive football at a higher level,” he added.
Morris said that one way that PNG soccer can do is to change the culture of how the game is played at the school, club, Besta Challenge, the pinnacle National Soccer League and even in the back-yard.
“We must change if we want to go forward,” Morris added.
“The game as we see it is not compatible to making an impact at our regional level,” he added.
Morris said this is a challenge to us as coaches to analyse ourselves and impart the knowledge in the best way possible at our various clubs and associations.
The Madang-based coach further said it’s all about educating all our coaches to the framework through the protocols that we set.
“But first we all as stakeholders in the game must design that that framework, understand it and ensure that is passed on down the line,” he added.
Morris likened it to a puzzle that the PNGFA has to put together for the short term for Pacific Games 2015 and importantly for the long term.
By John PANGKATANA