By HAIVETA KIVIA
Twelve affiliates of Papua New Guinea Football (Soccer) Associations (PNGFA) have indicated to send more than 40 women soccer players to attend the fitness and training camp in Lae on Friday.
The one-day training camp is organised by PNGFA for its womenís national coach Francis Moyap to see players first hand and to assess their fitness and skill levels, and to draft them into the national team for the next yearís Olympic qualifiers against New Zealand.
Moyap successfully coached the women to win another gold medal at the recently concluded South Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa.
The Manusian will be assisted at the camp by Oceania Football Confederationís (OFC) development officer Connie Selby.
PNGFA general secretary Dimirit Mileng said yesterday that Madang, Lahi, Lae Football Association (LFA), Wau, Wewak, Vanimo, Bulolo, Goroka, Chimbu, Mount Hagen, Kokopo and Buka have confirmed that they will send players to the camp.
Mileng said Madang, LFA, Lahi, Wau, Goroka and Chimbu will be sending five players each. Wewak, Vanimo and Bulolo will send three players, while, Kokopo, Buka and Mt Hagen have not indicated how many players they are sending.
Gorokaís lone national player Ara Midi will be one of the five players nominated by her association.
Midi saved PNG from the brinks of embarrassment when she levelled the score against Tonga in the gold medal play-off. Our girls went on to win that match 3-1 in extra time.
Mileng reiterated that current national team members are not guaranteed a place in next yearís team to take on the Kiwis
“All players will be treated equally, regardless of whether they are current national team players or not,” Mileng stressed.
He said if the players attending the camp demonstrate a high level of fitness and skill; they will be in the running for a place in the team.
“Some national players may have come back from the SP Games and may have partied given their success and may have become unfit,” he added.
“If that will be the case then there is still opening for other talented players to make the national team.”