U17 squad quietly slips out of country

 THE Papua New Guinea Football Association played ‘hide and seek’, with the national Under-17 team sneaking quietly out of the country yesterday for Oceania qualifiers in Vanuatu next week.

That is a similar story to the national U20 side that finished last in their qualifier last month.

Six Pacific nations will take part in the Oceania qualifiers that will be staged from April 17-25 at Chapuis Stadium on the island of Espiritu Santo, in Vanuatu, with the winners set to book a berth in the U17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

Getting ready to fight it out for that sole spot are the finest young players on offer from the Cook Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.

Coach Bob Morris has a mammoth task in launching his title bid in a face of strong challenges from the more fancied sides from Fiji, New Zealand and Vanuatu.

The team have just one player in their ranks with experience of this tournament in defender, John Ray. 

Morris said his boys had been working hard at training and were aware of the task ahead of them.

The team has been going through intensive training at the PNG Football Academy in Lae. 

Training was concentrated on tactics.

The full party comprises of team management Sigi Bechel as head of delegation, Hans Saking as team manager, Bob Morris coach, assisted by Steven Samson and Philip Keriaka as the team physiotherapist . 

The squad: Peter Pitor (Madang), Koniel Vagi (Wau) and Andrew Aopi (PMSA – Yamaros) as goalkeepers. Defenders: Jonel Kambual (Madang), Felix Komolong (LFA), Nigel Malangian (Madang), John Ray (Eastern Stars), Kepas Kamen (LFA), Stanley Steven (LFA) and Joshua Talau (LFA). Midfielders: David Mingai (Madang), Joshua Wadunah (Madang), Steven Inia (Madang) and Glenn Kambuka (Madang). Flankers: Abraham Mandawali (Wau) and strikers are Nicky Benjamin (LFA), Peter Jnr Dabinyaba (LFA), Ferdahlas Namuesh (LFA) and Randoll Bongi (Wau), while the utility player is Maya Bob (LFA).

The FIFA U17 World Cup takes place in the United Arab Emirates from October 17 to November 8.

PNG schedule: April 17, 3pm PNG-Vanuatu, Chapuis Stadium; April 19, 11am PNG-Cook Islands, Chapuis Stadium; April 21: 11am PNG-Fiji, Chapuis Stadium; April 23: 1pm PNG-New Caledonia, Chapuis Stadium; April 25: 11am PNG-New Zealand.