‘Olympic qualifier selection criteria should be spelt out’

By SAMPSON BONAI
A CALL has been made to PNG Football Association to clarify whether U23 players in the National Soccer League (NSL) are eligible for selection for the U23 Olympic qualifier camp in Lae next month.
Lae Football Association official Alex Tokey made the call saying that LFA had four players Hanz Mambare, Raymond Gunemba, Clemence Peka and Michael Foster playing with Tuguba Laitepo Morobe Kumuls.
“We will meet all the requirements to have our top junior players included on our list to attend the U23 Olympic Qualifier selection training camp but we want to know the criteria that will be used to allow the junior players to be eligible to attend the training camp,” Tokey said.
“PNGFA must explain that to all the member associations to avoid any confusion as to who is eligible to be selected, and who is not eligible under the U23 Olympic Qualifier selection trail.”
PNGFA general secretary Dimrit Mileng said yesterday that preference will be given to players from the member associations to give them a chance to show case their talents.
“We want to give an opportunity to the member associations and the coaches who have assessed the performance of their U23 players throughout the season to submit their names to us with their bio-data and the other criteria as required,” Mileng said.
“National Soccer League (NSL) players have their chances already in playing in the semi professional competition and we want to give a wider opportunity to many other associations who have missed out on selections in the past to have their top players selected for the trial training camp,” he said.