Kapuls to face tough test

By PATRICIA KEAMO
PAPUA New Guinea head coach Warren Moon says it will be a tough challenge for the Kapuls when they take on Sri Lanka and Central African Republic next week in the Fifa series in Colombo.
The Kapuls will face the hosts next Friday before taking on the African side on the following Monday which Moon described as a “real test for PNG.”
“It’s going to be a real test and challenge for us but it’s part of why we’re going, we want to expose our players to this level,” Moon said.
“That way we could improve as a team and obviously improve the nation with more quality opposition, that’s how we’re going to benefit our players and our country.”
Moon said the upcoming fixtures were good opportunities for PNG to have quality matches against high caliber teams.
“It’s really exciting time for PNG football.
“When I took over (as head coach) I did a review and a report for PNGFA and one of things we found was that the PNG men’s team have only played 11 friendlies in 30 years,” he said.
“So to be invited to a tournament like this and to have two quality matches is obviously unheard of, so for us, this is a first and we’re looking forward to learn.
“We want to make sure this is just the starting point for more tournaments and more exposure (for) our players to get games against high caliber players and opposition.”
Moon said Sri Lanka was heavily recruiting players with Sri Lankan heritage from around the world and they were looking to call out six overseas-based players in Europe as well as A-League player in Australia.
“In the A- League they’ve called out Jack Hingert (Brisbane Roar) so they’re going to be a lot stronger than what their world ranking suggests,” he said.
“In regards to Central African Republic, they’re a side that’s going to be a real test for us because they have talented players across Europe playing in the first division French Ligue 1, including players that have played in the highest level in Inter Milan.
“That’s going to be a real challenge for us. We want to expose our players to this level so that we could improve and obviously improve the nation with more quality opposition, that’s how we’re going to benefit our players and our country.”