Mike Keeney, the OFC Coach Mentor to Papua New Guinea, recently held trials in Lae with schools involving over 100 players for the U-17 age group and over 90 players for the U-15 age group which then will be selected for the opening of the Academy on 24th September.
The participation in the academy program will be limited at the maximum of 52 players and the focus is not on the quantity of players coming in but on the quality. The first group of players will be the base of the national team not now but in the future.
The players will be working with professional staff on a regular basis at three times a week with football support, tactical and technical training and will also adding the physical component where will be able to help with the fitness program, nutrition program and working closely with the schools to monitor the players progress to create pathways.
The academy program will continue to evolve and progress, and PNGFA will be working closely with OFC and APFA so that now the program starts up and running the players will have positive experience.
Mr Keeney said for the long term once the academy is up and running, and when we have 52 players in here over time a residential program would be ideal.
“The biggest thing to impact and improve player is to get them playing and the most important thing by establishing a curriculum to help guide and mentor coaches into what to teach and how to teach, the more specific way we come with the training program the country will continue to move forward,” Mr Keeney said.