Hockey squad to assemble in nation’s capital

Sports

By ISAAC LIRI
PAPUA New Guinea Hockey Federation’s main event this year is the 2019 Oceania Championships in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia in September, says president Kaluwin Potuan, pictured.
Potuan said the train-on squad selected was based on the national championships last September which involved players from Lae, East New Britain, West New Britain and Port Moresby.
Potuan said players would start training this month in their towns.
“Unfortunately there are no players from Manus and Madang in the squad because they were not represented at the championships.
“The squad that we are putting together for the Oceania Championships does not have any development players.
“The reason for this is because all development players from 2018 are all under 18 years and because we want to send the senior players and see if we can get some good results.
“We are planning to have all the members of the train-on squad in a camp in Port Moresby in the second week of April, the earlier the better,” Potuan said.
“During the camp, the federation is thinking of getting a coach from outside to help the players in their preparations.
“We are planning to do this because we want players to be disciplined on and off the pitch and bringing in somebody from outside could help us with that process so we’re looking at somebody from Australia and Fiji and we’ve already started talking with them.”
Potuan said the final squad will be announced by the end of June.
Train-on squad (M/W): ENB – Jersey Dusty, Patrick Paine, Kepas Mormor; WNB – Felix Samen; Lae – Roberta Walo, Russel Tarutia, Andrew Rauma; Port Moresby – Rachel Rabbie, Lola Ilimpui, Jessica Kevan, Hane Boio, Mary Potuan, Nikita Terence, Hilan Brooksbank, Damara More, Niachachen Pambuai, Hayee Kusunan, Andy Potuan, Kusunan Pokiap, Lyle Purkikil, Hussein Lowa, Barry Ilimpui, Joseph Potuan, Milton Kisapai Polangou Molean, Ignatius Pou; Men’s coach: Raymond Popal; Women’s coach: Sapau Tapo.