Komolong happy with performance, to find new club

IT has not gone to plan for Papua New Guinea as a loss to New Zealand’s Under-23 side meant they didn’t make the men’s football gold medal playoff, says a player.
However, centre-back Alwing Komolong is still happy with the consistency and core of players.
Komolong, pictured, also reveals that he has to look for a new club when he returns to Europe.
“I’d say we shot ourselves in the foot. We didn’t turn up on the day,” the 24-year-old said of the game against NZ U23, which they lost 2-0.
“Stuff didn’t go our way, but at the end of the day, that’s football. I think we need to be better at these kinds of games, but there’s nothing we can do about it.” PNG lost 4-2 in a penalty shootout against Fiji in the bronze medal playoff on Saturday.
“I think we still have a good core of players. It’s good to see consistency with the players who were in the Nations Cup final in 2016,” he said. “We can go upwards from here.”
For the big centre-back, the end of the Games also means he has to start looking for a new club, as he will not continue at his previous club, Fortuna Köln, who got relegated from the German third-tier of Germany last season.
He wants to continue his career in Europe but admits it’s not easy.
“I’m currently looking for a club. I’m looking to go back over and see what happens,” Komolong said. “It’s certainly not easy being a 24-year old Papua New Guinean in Europe but I’ll see what comes my way. I’m sure something will come my way.
“I’ve learnt a ton of stuff in Europe. The game there is all ‘total football’ in a professional environment.
“You pick up so much playing with professionals day in and day out, seeing how they behave and act in training and games, it’s an amazing experience.
“If you want to compete to be the best, you have to be the best every day. There’s not really a day when you can slack off.”
Luck had never been on Komolong’s side for his stint in Europe.
Tomasz Kaczmarek has recruited the centre-back twice, to Stuttgarter Kickers and Fortuna Köln, and both times have had to leave the club shortly after Komolong arriving. That has not helped Komolong.
“I’ve had the same coach twice and he’s been sacked twice,” Komolong said. “But that’s part of the business and you can’t dwell on it. You have to work hard and make sure you have something to offer.
“It certainly hasn’t been easy but the biggest thing I’ve learnt is keep working hard no matter the situation.” Fellow PNG star Tommy Semmy, who was not at the Games, is currently trialing with the Wellington Phoenix, who play in the Australian A-League.
A move for him, following Fiji star Roy Krishna’s departure to India, could open doors for other Pacific players, Komolong believes.
“That would be a massive boost (for football in PNG) and it opens the door for other Pacific talents as well, not just PNG,” he said.
“I think Roy (Krishna) has done a really good job making his mark at Phoenix. It’s positive signs but at the end of the day, everyone has to work hard to get where they are.”
– footballoceania