Papua New Guinea women’s soccer team, consisting of 22 players with three officials, departed last Friday for the Gold Coast, Australia to participate in friendly matches leading up to the Nation’s Cup.
The Nations Cup will be hosted by the PNG Football Association and is to be staged in Lae at Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium from November 25-29. The four nations participating in this event are; New Zealand, Tonga, Cook Islands and host Papua New Guinea.
In the lead up, the women’s team will play four friendly games against local clubs and a Queensland state team, as well as gain some confidence which will be a boost for the players.
Head coach Frederica Sakette is confident with the side and says the team is dominated with girls between the ages of 18 to 20.
She said most of the players have represented the country well in the past, participating in the Youth Olympics tournament in 2010.
Few senior players were thrown into the squad to add flavour and maturity to the team and the team is looking forward to the two weeks training camp and is hoping for a successful tour on the Gold Coast.
The team returns on Oct 1 and will head into a two weeks training camp in Lae leading up to the Nations Cup.
The OFC Women’s Nations Cup is Oceania’s most prestigious international women’s football tournament in the Pacific and this year’s edition is a qualifier for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada next year.
The 22 squad travelling squad are: NCD PSSA – Marie Kaipu and Maggie Weva, Port Moresby Soccer Association – Dorcas Sesevo, Fatima Rama, Sandra Birum, Cathy Samson, Deslyn Siniu and Yvonne Gabong, Lae Football Association – Zeena Limbai, Meagen Gunemba, Grace Steven, Judith Gunemba and Fidelma Watpore, LAHI – Carolyn Obi, Daisy Winas and Rita Mayang, Madang Soccer Association – Lace Kunei, Georgina Kaikas, Nicolla Niaman, Rumona Morris and Talitha Irakau.