The players are set to unite with Herbert for a week-long camp at the PNGFA Academy in Lae as the national association continues to build the foundations for the team’s campaign for the Pacific Games.
The majority of the players set to come into camp are currently playing in the Telikom National Soccer League with a whopping 14 coming straight out of the development side Besta PNG United FC.
There is also a large portion of the group have already represented their country at either U-17 or U-20 level in the past four years.
After missing out on the 2014 OFC U-20 Championship, defender John Ray returns to the national set-up joining former national teammates Alwin and Felix Komolong.
Assistant coach and PNGFA coach-mentor Milan Miric says the group going into camp on Sunday has been narrowed down from a much wider selection.
“We have an extended list of 50 players, while 36 have been invited for the first camp we will see how we go,” he says.
At the end of the week the team will be whittled down further as Herbert will select just 20 players to travel to Solomon Islands for friendlies against the Solomon Islands U-23, Solympics, and 2015 OFC Champions League participants Western United.
PNG U-23 training squad:
Charles LEPANI – FC Port Moresby
Vagi KONIEL – Besta PNG United
Enoch MALIWOLO – Oro
Ismael POLE – Hekari United
Joshua TALAU – Besta PNG United
Nigel MALAGIAN – Madang
Fidalas NAMUESH – Besta PNG United
Philadelphia VELA – FC Port Moresby
Otto KUSUNAN – Besta PNG United
Billy NADRAMEN – Admirality
John RAY – Besta PNG United
Ayrton YAGAS – FC Port Moresby
Rodney MOBIHA – Admirality
Darren STEVEN – Madang
Basil JOFARI – FC Port Moresby
Freddy STEVEN – Besta PNG United
Alwin KOMOLONG – Madang
Brendan BENI – Besta PNG United
Papalau AWELE – Besta PNG United
Maskulan PULUNG – Besta PNG United
Sammey RUFFUS – Besta PNG United
Patrick AISA – Oro
Tommy SEMMY – Hekari United
Emmanuel AIREM – Hekari United
Jacob SABUA – Oro
Nathan JAMES – Besta PNG United
Emmanuel YAWI – Besta PNG United
Lui KATAKA – Besta PNG United
Maybon LOHAI – Besta PNG United
Sorowe MALAMA – Admirality
Pettyshen ELIJAH – Admirality
Bika OBERT – Lae City Dwellers
Abel REDENUT – FC Port Moresby
Reynard YOHANG – Madang
Gimale ESSACU – FC Port Moresby
Felix KOMOLONG – Madang