By HENRY MORABANG
FORMER international Richard Wagambie has called on Telikom PNG Kumul coach Adrian Lam to improve on his defensive workout and play disciplined football in the remaining two matches.
Wagambie made his comment after PNG Kumuls lost its first Test match to France Roosters 38-26, and not France A side as reported.
He said he whole heartedly supported Lam and his team but they still need to improve on their defense if what I have seen on the TV was correct.
The former Kumul vice captain said the current team is the best ever team since PNG become a Test playing nation to leave the shores with nine professional players included in the team.
He said by watching the highlights on the TV, the Kumuls coach made blunder by playing some players out of position such as Menzie Yere in the centre. Yere is the backline (fullback) specialist.
Wagambie said France ran through Menzie twice to score while two wingers were made as scapegoat because they had to move in to cover up for their three quarters (centers) to allow gap for their opponents to score.
He believed that PNG Kumul was the better side than the France Roosters.
“Our defence broke down and our players were not in their blocks which the Roosters capitalised to score,” he said.
Wagambie said he supported Lam’s coaching techniques in structure football but asked the coach if he could allow for natural flamboyance to come into play because PNG players were naturally good at it.
Wagambie, who now coaches Wari Vele Raiders in the SP Cup competition, said he had full trust and confidence in Lam and his boys.
“Telikom Kumuls should not worry about the losses and focus on the World Cup, it would mean losing two games which is not a big thing Ö the World Cup is the ultimate aim. PNG Kumuls must be competitive at that level,” he said.
Wagambie played professional football with Carpentria RFC in southern France for two season before returning to PNG.