Showdown

Sports

By HENRY MORABANG
HARRISON Kamake’side face their biggest test of the Oceania Football Confederation Under-17 men’s soccer championship when they play five-time titlist New Zealand in the semi-final today.
The second playoff match is at the Stade Mahina, Papeete, Tahiti at 3pm (PNG time).
The first semifinal is between Solomon Islands and New Caledonia.
Midfielder Emmanuel Simongi, who scored the late match-winner against hosts Tahiti last Friday, is expected to feature prominentlyalong with other standouts Yagi Yasasa, Greeman Giwi, Kimson Kapai, Barthy Kerobin and goalkeeper Graham Berigami.
Simongi upset a partisan Tahiti crowd in their final Group A match last Friday when he connected with a corner in the 87th minute to give PNG a late win and passage into the semis.
The young midfielder was one of seven football players selected for the inaugural OFC Education Centre in Auckland last year, participating in a rigorous training programme while attending high school in New Zealand.
Coach Kamake told The National that his side would approach this game with the right attitude as any other game.
“New Zealand are obviously the favourites at this tournament but we’re staying positive and keeping in mind that in football nothing is impossible,” Kamake said.
PNG suffered a blow heading into the semi-final with the unavailability of captain Ricky Wadunah, whose two yellow cards at the tournament meant he was suspended for one game.
Fullback Dopson Noi will stand in as captain.
“We have not thought much about the World Cup spot, we’ve just been focusing on one game at a time,” Kamake said.
“Right now taking on New Zealand is the only thing on our minds.”
Kamake admitted losing Wadunah was a setback for the side as he had led well.
“It’s a big blow for the team because he did lead the boys well, he said.
“They’ll miss that but I think we have some boys who can take over the leadership role.
“They’ve got the right attitude and they’re ready to play.”
Despite remaining unbeaten and conceding only one goal in the group stage of the competition, New Zealand coach Danny Hay said his side were not taking anything for granted in the clash against PNG. “We know that PNG will be a different sort of side, a lot more technical in terms of their style of play,” Hay said.
“It’s going to be a difficult assignment for us.
“They’ve had an extra day’s rest so they’re probably well-rested, whereas we’ve had a shorter turn around,” he said.
“Now it’s just going to be about recovery and then preparing for this massive game.” PNG: 1. Charley Ningikau (GK), 2. Milton Biwa, 3. Kimson Kapai, 4. Sylvester Luke, 5. Freeman Giwi, 6. Samuel Detnom, 7. Emmanuel Simongi, 8. Aben Pukue, 9. Barthy Kerobin, 10. Oberth Simon, 11. Yagi Yasasa, 13. Thomas Kongragle, 14. Emmanuel Yopiyopi, 15. Dunstan Jefferey, 16. Jonathan Allen, 17. Dopson Noi (c), 18. Wolfram Kob, 19. Abraham Allen, 20. Graham Berigami (GK).