Football squad end camp

THE wider national women’s football train-on squad have completed a five-day camp at Papua New Guinea Football Education Centre at 11-Mile outside Lae, Morobe.
The 27 players were selected by head coach Nicola Demaine following a number of trials featuring players from the inaugural Women National Soccer League (WNSL).
The players were flown to Lae from Port Moresby, Kimbe, Rabaul and Wewak while Lae, Madang and Ramu squad members travelled by road.
Demaine said the players were put through a full programme with numerous fitness tests and tactical training sessions.
She is looking at a good mixture of experience and youth to ensure longevity of the programme beyond the Oceania Football Confederation Nations Cup.
“It was really good to get the players together and see how they fit as a group,” Demaine said.
“We are following in the footsteps of some amazing female players and took time to understand the past success of the national women’s team.
“We are at a starting point, so the camp was as much about assessment as it was about learning tactics and habits that we want to take forward.
“We made excellent progress this week in terms of who we want to be as a group and how we want to play.
“Each player put in a great effort and I was very pleased with what I saw.”
Demaine said she was still open-minded about players who did not attend and was excited to see who excelled during the WNSL season.
The coach said she was also looking at overseas-based players to ensure “we take the strongest team possible to the OFC Nations Cup”.
The players who attended the camp were Georgina Bakani, Ramona Padio, Charlie Banzeck, Nenny Elias, Kesai Katome, Ramona Morris, Olive Upaupa, Marreerose Wadunah, Sagude Zale, Isabella Natera, Phylus Pala, Rayleen Bauelua, Yvonne Gabong, Lavina Hola, Lucy Maino, Sonia Embahe, Sharlom Waida, Marie Kaipu, Sera Waida, Fidelma Watpore, Arnolda Dou, Faith Kasiray, Asaiso Gossie, Joanne Uttie, Sharlyn Jagi, Juaneth Mistera and Bridgit Paime.