| Sports |
PNG chase gold in women soccer
By HENRY MORABANG in Apia,
Samoa
PAPUA New Guinea
will play Tonga in the gold medal decider in the women’s soccer
on Saturday at Blatter Oval at Taleafa Sports Complex.
Tonga caused the major upset of the round by defeating
favourites Fiji 1-0 to set a date for the final showdown. PNG
beat Tahiti 5-0.
Coach Francis Moiyap was looking forward for the replay of the
2003 South Pacific Games however, this would not be the case, as
the Fiji were knocked out by the Tongans yesterday.
Moiyap will be fielding his strongest side led by skipper Julie
Alau in the midfield. Alau will be calling on the services of
Daisy Winas, Ara Midi, Margaret Aka, Deslyn Siniu and leading
goal scorer Lydia Barnabas to score goals.
Winas who had been outstanding in all matches would be very
dangerous to contain when she is not marked properly.
PNG finished second to Fiji in their pool, and had to play
Tahiti while Fiji played Tonga in the other pool. However, Tonga
proved too strong to beat them to advance to the gold medal
play-off.
Moiyap said that even though his team will start as favourites
they were not underestimating their opponents on Saturday.
.....................................
FORMER rugby league winger-turned-sprinter Andrew Stone
collected his first medal here yesterday in the 400 metre race.
Stone, the son of PNG taekwando instructor Jamuga had a bad
start at the blocks had to settle for brown medal after
finishing behind Fijians Niko Verekauta (gold) and Ilisea
Namosimalua (silver).
Verekauta clocked 46.9 while his compatriot Namosimlua was
second in a time of 47.5. Stone crossed the finishing line at
47.9, a best performance by a rookie.
 
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