Hot but we love PNG

By ISAAC LIRI
THE weather is hot and humid but the reception overseas players are getting from local soccer fans in Port Moresby is cool, according to two women’s soccer team coaches.
Sweden head coach Calle Barrling, whose team was beaten 2-0 by North Korea in the opening Pool A game of the 2016 women’s soccer World Cup at the Sir John Guise Stadium last night, said the humidity in Port Moresby was their biggest challenge.
He said the players and officials were used to the “snow” back home and had been trying to cope with the warmer conditions in Port Moresby since their arrival last week.
But he said they were enjoying their stay in PNG.
“We thank the people of Papua New Guinea for welcoming us,” he said.
“We are enjoying our stay in this country.”
He acknowledged the support of the locals who turned up at their airport to welcome them and who last night cheered them on at the stadium.
“The local support we have been getting is good and we are so happy about the support,” he said.
Barrling was pleased with their performance in the opening game, saying it was a great opportunity to be playing in the World Cup and getting such a good result against a country which boasted of an outstanding record in the U-20 women’s World Cup. North Korea DPR head coach Hwang Yongbong agreed that the weather was much warmer than back home but they were enjoying the PNG hospitality.
He wished PNG well in running the international event until the end of the tournament on Dec 3.
On their victory last night, Yongbong said they missed a lot of opportunities which could have extended the score line.
PNG were thrashed 9-0 by Brazil in the second Pool A match last night. The opening matches last night were watched by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, Fifa vice-president David Chung, Fifa secretary-general Fatma Samba Diouf and Sports Minister Justine Tkatchenko.
Today’s games at 4pm and 7pm: France-USA, Ghana-New Zealand (PNG Football Stadium), Germany-Venezuela, Mexico-Korea (National Football Stadium).
The Fifa Under-20 women’s tournament which started yesterday ends early next month.