Lae, Goroka to host youth tourneys

 LAE and Goroka Football Association will host the national youth tournaments for men and women next month.

PNG Football Association secretary-general Dimirit Mileng said Lae would host the Under-17 leg of the competition while Goroka has been tasked with hosting the U20 leg.

The  Lae tournament will be held from July 2-5 while Goroka will host the U20 from July 9-12. 

Mileng said PNGFA is now making a second call to member associations to begin the process of nominating the respective teams in the U17 and U20 age groups for the tournament.  

“National company, Niugini Table Birds has accepted our request for assistance and has come on board with a sponsorship package of K35,000. 

“This is a first for the youth tournament and PNGFA is very grateful to Table Birds for the assistance,” Mileng said.

The PNGFA appealed to other business houses to come forward and assist this tournament which has been held for the last four years and has help uncover talent for the national sides and the National Soccer League. 

The tournament provides young players a chance to show their talent and gain selection for national duties.

This year’s tournament is also important that it provides for the selectors to look out for talents who could make the national team for the 2015 games especially those in the U20s. 

This year selectors are particular interested to selecting the U16 and U19 women’s national team for the 2014 OFC World Cup qualifiers.

Mileng said it is very important that team management stick to the age cut-off dates to allow players to be identified for national duties. 

Teams are also reminded to bring along birth certificates to verify the ages of players.

Information on the Table Birds National Youth Tournamentcan be obtained from the PNGFA secretariat office on: 72842299 or 73994657.