The former international striker has been working with the Papua New Guinea side intensively and believes that the addition of foreign-based players can help the team emerge as a force next year.
Two friendly internationals with Singapore scheduled for September will put that view to the test.
“Since our last camp in July the boys have continued training and we’ve selected a group of 22 players to travel for a camp on the Gold Coast and play two friendly matches.
“We’ve got two weeks in Singapore and play their national team on 6 September and matches with a couple of club sides from the professional S-League.
“These are part of our long term preparations and helps us develop work on our system of play building toward next year,” Davani says.
While the strength of the Papua New Guinea national team is built primarily on the form of its domestic players, Davani is keen to see the influence of foreign-based talent polish some rough edges.
Davani, who played his football with foreign clubs like KOSSA FC and Auckland City FC, knows a thing or two about the type of experience those players can bring to the table.
“There’s still a few players to come in from injury, plus work and school commitments. But we’ve a few overseas players like Wira Wama and Alwin Komolong who are both in the USA.
“Mauri Wasi, who everyone is familiar with, plays his football in New Zealand. We’ve also got some Australian-based players, including one with Hyundai A-League experience, who will add something to the squad.
“We’re starting to see a core of players emerge and its about building around these players with a view to the future. It won’t be easy to pick a squad but that’s a good situation for us,” Davani says.
As the national team prepares for its Singapore adventure, the players know they also have their domestic commitments on the horizon with the start of the National Soccer League later this year.
“We come back mid-September but we’ll continue training in our centres around the country. We’re looking at a possible friendly international with a pacific side in November.
“But the domestic league starts at the end of the year and the players will rejoin their clubs, we’ll break for the festive break in December, then return in January and look to play more preparatory games in Australia,” he says.
With the Pacific Games being hosted in Papua New Guinea next year, Davani is all too aware that monitoring progress toward a top performance is key.
And from what he’s seen so far, he’s happy with advances within the squad’s condition on and off the training field.
“Since we first started in June we’ve seen improvements in fitness and tactical awareness and its improving every week.
“The intesnity is lifting as well. Nothing is gauranteed the players all have to perform. We can’t complain about their work rate and attitude so we just hope the improvement continues,” he says.
Papua New Guinea hope to have the shape of its squad for the Pacific Games in place by February 2015.
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