The former Australia national team coach has included three sets of brothers and there is even a father-and-son link through Michael Foster and his dad, Max, who has been named assistant coach.
The Davani family has provided Reginald and Alex, and the Lepani clan will be represented by Andrew and Nathaniel, while David and Cyril Muta complete the set of siblings in Farina’s line-up.
The bulk of the team has been selected from the Telikom National Soccer League but several overseas-based players have also been included.
Farina decided on his personnel for the Games after the staging of a training camp at the Papua New Guinea Football Association academy in Lae and will take his charges to Australia for a further two weeks of preparation before they head to New Caledonia.
“I’m sure the boys will be well prepared for the event after playing five matches in Australia,” he says.
“It’s been a long time since the national team played together in a competitive international but, if they continue to show improvement, I’m confident in the boys.”
The team will be based at the Sports Super Centre in Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast during their Australia camp, where Farina will hatch his final plans for the Games campaign.
Despite having a talented squad at his disposal, Farina will face a tough challenge to turn Papua New Guinea into title contenders and history is not on their side.
The last time a men’s football team from the country picked up a medal was the bronze triumph of 1987 in New Caledonia and the only previous success was bronze as hosts in 1969.
Papua New Guinea squad for XIV Pacific Games
Leslie KALAI
Ronald WARISAN
Valentine NELSON
Kelly JAMPU
Andrew LEPANI
Koriak UPAIGA
Samuel KINI
David MUTA
Ian YANUM
Michael FOSTER
Reginald DAVANI
Felix BONDALUK
Jeremy YASASA
Tonga ESIRA
Niel HANS
Ericson KOMENG
Alex DAVANI
Cyril MUTA
Maurie WASI
Gari MOKA
Nathaniel LEPANI
David AUA
Jamal SEETO
Non-travelling reserves:
Roger MIAMBA
Daniel JOE
Team management:
Head coach: Frank FARINA
Assistant coaches: Max FOSTER and Wesley WAIWAI
Team manager: Edward TAULOI
Physio: Philip KERIAKA