Coach Steven Mune masterminded the 2-1 final victory over hosts New Caledonia that earned the crown but believes the credit does not belong to just him and his key players.
“I’m delighted with the win and I’d say it’s all been because of team work because we all worked really hard for it,” he says.
“During the half-time break I was telling the players we just had to be patient because New Caledonia are a very good team, especially their front line. I knew we would have to be very tight in our marking and it paid off.”
Mune had to wait until one of the final kicks of the game for that patience to be rewarded though, as defender Linah Honeakii stepped up to slot a penalty home and ensure the gold medal would go to Papua New Guinea once more for a ground-breaking third time.
It looked as if the match would be heading into extra time after 90 minutes of play failed to separate the teams in an open and entertaining contest at Stade Numa Daly. The scores were locked at 1-1 after the sides traded first half goals from Ara Midi and Christelle Wahnawe respectively.
The latter’s strike was one of the highlights of the tournament – a spectacular long range free kick that curled over the Papua New Guinea wall and found its way into the top corner of goalkeeper Linda Bunaga’s net.
It was a strike that would have been worthy of winning any tournament but that honour instead went to Honeakii, who made a hero out of herself when Midi was brought down in the box in injury time and Fijian referee Finau Vulivuli had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, despite the protestations of the numerous rowdy fans that had packed into Numa Daly.
While Mune believes the victory was a result of unity and solidarity throughout the squad, he does feel one member of the line-up is worthy of special praise.
Inspirational skipper Miriam Lanta is in her 39th year and Mune was delighted to be able to send a player that has served the country so well out on a high.
“Our captain Miriam is the oldest player in the team and this was her last piece of football,” he says. “We told the ladies we had to do our best for her and make sure we took the gold medal home again.”
The Pacific Games champions will have to get by without the services of Lanta for the first time in a long while in their next international outing, a clash with 2010 OFC Women’s Nations Cup champions New Zealand in March that will determine who represents Oceania at the 2012 London Olympics.