Kapuls boost attack

THE return of Papua New Guinea striker Raymond Gunemba will be a welcome addition to coach Flemming Serritslev’s side as they look to salvage their Oceania soccer World Cup qualification campaign against Tahiti in the return match at Stade Pater, Papeete, Tahiti today.
Gunemba’s presence is a boost for the Kapuls, who are without winger David Browne, after receiving a red card in PNG’s 3-1 loss to Tahiti last Thursday in Port Moresby.
The task at hand is a tough one: PNG have to beat Tahiti by a three-goal margin to keep alive their hopes of topping Group B.
Gunemba, who won the Golden Boot award at the Nations Cup last year, was forced to sit out last week’s international fixture after accruing two yellow cards at the 2016 Nations Cup.
He has an established combination with winger Nigel Dabinyaba as the pair formed a potent attack for National Soccer League champions, the Lae City Dwellers, over the last two seasons.
Serritislev said he was also relieved that Dabinyaba and captain Michael Foster were not suspended for the return match after also getting yellow-carded last Thursday.
But his fears were allayed after learning that a yellow card each received at the 2016 Nations Cup would not be considered in conjunction with the recent cautions.
All single cautions were wiped following the OFC Nations Cup.
“The attitude of the players was actually very good,” Serritslev said of last week’s loss. “Now we just have to raise them mentally again.”
Tahiti may have come out victorious in the first leg 3-1, but their opponents are keen to come back hard and fast in today’s match.
For Tahiti, a win in their fourth and final group match should be enough to secure their place in the final against the winner of Group A.
However having experienced the grit and determination of their opponents in Port Moresby, coach Ludovic Graugnard knows they will be desperate. He admitted his side needed to settle into the match much quicker if they wanted to bank their second win over PNG.
“We weren’t particularly settled after the sending off in Port Moresby and that was evident in our game,” Graugnard said.
“I said to the assistant coach that if PNG scored, it would be from a rapid counter, a long ball or a free kick.
“Unfortunately it was the free kick.”
Having seen the skill of his opponents in set-pieces, and knowing the return of Gunemba meant pace and unpredictability up front, the Frenchman expects a strong defensive performance from his team.
But he also believes that with six points, Tahiti has an advantage over the Papua New Guineans. “We will play at home with a lot of confidence,” he said.
“We’ll be able to play with a bit more serenity.”
PNG: Ronald Warisan, Abel Redenut, Richard Alois, Alwin Komolong, Felix Komolong, Patrick Aisa, Raymond Gunemba, Michael Foster, Nigel Dabinyaba, Samuel Kini, Emmanuel Simon, Philip Steven, Giwi Simon, Jacob Sabua, Clement Willis, Kusuga Komolong, Donovan Murray