Winas win spot in women squad

POWERFUL striker Daisy Winas have been named in the strong 18 PNG women soccer squad to represent PNG at the coming Football Confederation (OFC) women’s World Cup qualifier against New Zealand in March.
PNG will play a home-and-away qualifier series with the first game in Port Moresby on March 8 while the second match in Auckland, New Zealand, on March 12.
Winas have been a very consistent player throughout the year at both national and local competitions. She spearheaded PNG’s gold medal win against Tonga in the last South Pacific Games in Samoa last year.
Other players included in the squad include Deslyn Siniu, Helen Baki, Lydia Barnabas, Linda Burnaga, Caroline Moeder, Ara Midi, Miriam Lanta, Roxanne Komeng, Samanthan Peninsa and Tracey Kig. Others who have fought their way back into the national team include Wabag duo Pauline Turakaur and Sakapu Mark, Cathy Agunam (Goroka) and Port Moresby Martha Kiapin.
Women coach Francis Moiyap said the final 18 players has been selected on form and confident that they would perform to the best of their ability to brush aside bitter memories of their thrashing at the hand of the Kiwis last year.
“I have made the final selection and the team will go into one-month camp in Port Moresby starting Feb 2” Moyap said.
“Although there is still a need for improvement in the team, I also believe that given the chance to prove their worth in the national team they will come out firing as this is the last hurdle to beat New Zealand and hopefully we walk into the Olympic games.”