Jeffery pushing for spot in PNG’s open mix team at World Cup

By JAMIE HARO
RISING touch footy talent Marupi Jeffery is aiming to wear the national colours as he commits his time in training to make the PNG open mix final squad ahead of the 2024 World Cup in England.
The 24-year-old from Meii village, Central Kerema in Gulf, who was raised in the notorious suburb of Kaugere in Port Moresby, said an opportunity struck for him this year when he found out his name appeared in the World Cup train-on squad.
“I didn’t expect that I would be on the train on squad for this year’s World Cup after I didn’t make the final cut Team PNG extended squad in last year’s 2023 Pacific Games,” Jeffery said.
“I was really shocked when I saw my name and knew that there is hope after all. Right now I am just putting my head down to give a 110 per cent in every training session with the hope to make the final cut.”
A huge fan of Australian Emu Dylan Hennessey and his own brother Harry Kea, who was part of the 2015 World Cup and Pacific Games PNG team, Jeffery said he would like to see himself achieve a goal of representing PNG.
“I started playing in 2013 but wasn’t too consistent year in and year out,” he said.
“Played in the previous touch associations and had my first National Touch Championship appearance when the event was hosted in Port Moresby back in 2017.
“I stayed out for a while and came back last year and played with the AA Sparkplugs and was privileged to represent Capital Touch open men’s team at the 2023 NTC in Popondetta, Northern. From there I made the train and trial squad, although I didn’t make it through, this year’s selection came as a shock but I was fully prepared to put in the extra work and will continue in the training sessions until the final 16 for the Open Mix team is named.
“For now it is all hard work and commitment and hopefully I get to achieve my main goal.”
Jeffery currently plays for the Pacific Industries touch footy team in the Corporate Touch Port Moresby competition.