Gunemba aims to repay faith

By PARKER TAMBUA
VETERAN Raymond Gunemba is aiming to retain his place in the national men’s team as he seeks redemption in the Fifa World Cup Oceania Football Confederation qualifiers next year.
The 35-year-old has been named in the 30-man train-on squad for the qualifiers which will be held in Doha, Qatar, in March.
Gunemba was among six representative players who were banned from playing in the national team over a drinking incident while on representative duties in the 2019 Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa.
The striker told The National yesterday that he was grateful to be called back into the team after he won an appeal against the Papua New Guinea Football Association ban.
“I am very grateful to be back in the squad after serving disciplinary actions handed down on me,” said Gunemba, who has so far scored 11 goals in 21 international matches.
“I thank the association for believing in me.
“Mistakes happen, but they must be corrected to learn and progress in life.
“I want to assure everyone that I will give my very best and help the team to push towards achieving our goal going into the qualifiers.”
Despite his age, the Morobe native said he still had the passion to play at the highest level of the game.
“As long as I am still fit, I will continue to put my hand up to represent the country,” the Lae City Dwellers captain said.
“I will continue to give my best for PNG until I have reached a certain age and then I can hang up my boots.”
Meanwhile, three other players —Ronald Warisan, Jacob Sabua and Nigel Dabinyaba — have also won their appeals and are back in the squad.