Football match focused on ball contact: Gusmao

By PATRICIA KEAMO
THE national men’s football squad split into two teams and played a practice match at Port Moresby’s Papua New Guinea Football Stadium on Saturday.
Head coach Marcos Gusmao said it was aimed at ball contact.
“Football fans don’t need to be worried when they watch the training and think it’s slow,” the Brazilian told The National yesterday.
His comments came after questions were raised on the intensity of the game following a video of the match posted on the PNG Football Association’s social media page.
“My style of playing will be much faster, more aggressive and mental,” Gusmao said.
“It will be a totally different team than in years past. The reality will be different.
“I am in contact with assistant coach Bob Morris who told me that he is focused on physical training, so I advised him to play a friendly match to relax the players.”
Attempts to get a comment from the coaching staff and association on the training programme were unsuccessful, with no approval given to the media to cover the preparations at the stadium.
Meanwhile, Gusmao — who was supposed to arrive in Port Moresby last week — is still in Brazil due to delays with his visa.
“Due to restrictions at the airport in Singapore, I have not left home yet,” he said.
“They asked for some documents which I will have ready by this week.
“I believe that this coming week, I will arrive in PNG.”
Gusmao is expected to take over preparations and trim the 30-man squad to 23 players before the camp disbands next Wednesday for the festive season.
A final extended camp is scheduled for early next year.