THE Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) has announced its U23 soccer squad for the pre-Olympic qualifier in Fiji next week.
Surprisingly, Welgris Highlanders contributed four players to the national team for the first time in history of soccer in the region.
Coach Pius Letenge attributed the Highlander recent success at the national and also at NSL competition to Tony Kila and his Welgris Distributors for having confidence to back the team.
Letenge said without franchise Welgris Distributors, the Highlanders team would not be successful.
The Highlanders contributions to the U23 team include Anton Pipi, Samuel Kini, Mathew Apo and Koriak Upaiga.
The full squad is Gure Gabina, Anton Pipi (goal keepers), Cyril Muta, Tarcicius Manadarip, Lawrence Moses, Mathew Yang, Koriak Upaiga, Rodney Talau (defenders), David Muta (capt), Samuel Kini, Fabian Bagi, Roniel Egens, Charlies Paranda, William Mobbs, Alex Davani, (midfielders), Mathias Apo, Tau Winnie, Niel Hanz, Raymond Gunemba, Jason Wesley (strikers)
The team will be captained by David Muta which includes two overseas-based players in William Mobbs (Sydney) and Alex Davani (Brisbane Strikers).
Mr Kila said he was proud that his Highlands team has contributed four players to the national team. He said the full credit must go to the coach Letenge, team management and individual players who have been selected for their commitment and dedication by winning a spot.
Kila who witnessed his team beat Inspac Rapatona 2-1 said he knew it was coming as they held strong team Blue Kumuls 1-1 the previous weekend.
“Welgris Highlanders played a better game and control the football well than Inspac Rapatona players,” he said.
He only hopes that the Highlanders will continue win the remaining games to stay in the top four.
The Under 23 coach George Cowie commended the make up of the team especially from Welgris Highlanders.
He said the teams were selected on their performance and he is confident that they would produce the results. All the players selected were available except for Andrew Marampau who withdrew due to his enlisting to do military training at Goldie Barracks.
Cowie and his co-selector Joe Turia have included Charles Paranda as Marampau’s replacement.