The PNG’s soccer womens squads for South Pacific Games started their training early this week (Monday 8th January 2007) at the PNGFA Academy. The duration of 10-days training is yet to be confirmed with Technical Director Marcos Gusamo when he comes back from holidays in Brazil next week.

Despite mediocre success since doing PNG proud during the 2003 South Pacific Games in Suva, Fiji, the PNG women have re-grouped with new-found talent to prepare again for the 2007 SP Games.

However, it is expected to be a long road with a proposed tour to the Queensland Academy in the second week of February to kick-start the offensive. This has been organised to prepare the women for the immediate goal, which is the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) World Cup qualifier in early April.

Papua New Guinea will host the OFC qualifier with the expected venue yet to be confirmed at the end of January 2007. PNGFA has sent in a submissions to help with funding for the trip to Australia through the PNG Sports Federation and MRDC’s 5 million kina grant and

hopefully getting news of the submission soon as it is put in the submission in December.

PNG, New Zealand, Tonga and Samoa were the four countries confirmed at this stage for the OFC Qualifier. PNGFA is also looking at inviting an Indonesian representative side to boost the build-up and the lead-up games are all subject to funding at this stage.

A squad filtered with a majority of former youth internationals was expected to enter the first preparation phase camp at the PNGFA Academy in Lae tomorrow.

Academy coach Max Foster and Susie Mileng would conduct the training camp.

The coaches earlier earmarked, Luke Muta from Kimbe and Phoebe Rarabun from Port Moresby had not responded to be part of the coaching staff.

A Five-days women’s coaching course will immediately follow the training camp on January 23. The course is open to women who currently have a coaching license, practicing coach or interested coaches. Interested women coaches are urged to contact the PNGFA secretariat on Ph 475-1398 to discuss whether they need help in attending the course.

The PNG women’s soccer train-on squad: Aku Jim, Betty Gaya, Maria Yano, Angie Kapia, Sakapu Mark, Pauline Turakaur (Wabag), Esther Muta (Kimbe), Matilda Tomalin (LFA), Caroline Moeder, Tracy Kig (Madang), Alice Solon, Martha Nakaio, Daisy Winas, Jacklyn Chalau (Lahi), Ara Midi, Pauline Norman, Cathy Agunam, Cathy Samson (Goroka), Deslyn Siniu, Linda Bunaga, Cecilia Dobbin, Julie Alau (Port Moresby), Florence Lahis (Bougainville).