All this combined during the OFC U-20 Women’s Championship last week to see the Papua New Guinea striker become the first player outside New Zealand or Australia to win the prestigious Golden Ball at U-20 Women’s level.
The 18-year-old is incredulous to see her name alongside some of the region’s top women’s footballers as a recipient of the prestigious trophy.
“I’m very happy and proud that I’m part of these girls who have won player of the tournament, the Golden Ball,” Gunemba enthused.
“I just want to thank God for giving me this victory, and may he get the glory. I also want to thank my teammates who played and helped me win games, thank you to my coaches and management staff and thank you to OFC as well.”
As well as securing the ultimate individual prize, Gunemba’s hat-trick during Papua New Guinea’s 4-0 victory over Tonga saw her fall a goal short of equalling the tally of top scorer Emma Rolston of New Zealand.
While obviously upset not to have held on against the Kiwis in their final match, Gunemba says she’s happy with the overall performance of her side.
“I really enjoyed the tournament, especially getting out on the field for games. I never thought that I would score three goals in one game but against Tonga I managed to do it,” she says.
“I enjoyed all the games against those Pacific Island teams but New Zealand was my favourite opponent over the course of the tournament because they are always champions. We tried our best to beat them.
“For myself I’m very proud that we held New Zealand to just 1-0 at half-time, and then it was in the dying minutes they scored two goals to make it three. I’m so proud of my girls to hold New Zealand to 3-0 – this is Papua New Guinea women’s football history.”
Gunemba says she learnt her notable array of skills playing in the backyard with her coach father.
“I have some good skills. I can do everything – I can fake, I can dribble. Even when I play against the boys at home, I can score goals against them, I just want to say thanks to my dad for bringing me up like this.
“Thanks to him I’m in the national team, I’ve had the opportunity to win this Golden Ball and I’m very proud, back in my country there will be big celebrations about that.”
One thing Gunemba wasn’t able to do during her trip to New Zealand was replicate the goal-scoring heroics of her brother Raymond Gunemba who scored twice against the Kiwis during the 2008 OFC Olympic Qualifiers, in a match that finished 5-2 in New Zealand’s favour.
“My brother is one of the top players in Papua New Guinea, he scored two goals against New Zealand and I thought I would score against New Zealand too,” she says.
“I didn’t, but I’m very thankful I have this Golden Ball and I’ll try my best next time to score against New Zealand.”
The striker will return to Lae where she plays with her club side Poro FC, where she’s hoping the National Women’s League will get underway soon. In the
meantime she’s already looking to future internationals with the senior national women’s side, and hopes to join the team at both the OFC Nations Cup in October this year, and the 2015 South Pacific Games on home soil.

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