Morobe Wawens announce 35-man squad

MOROBE Wawens have named a 35-man training squad who will be led by coach Bob Morris, assistant Fred Rudolf, team manager Kossie Java, and trainers Charlie Foike and Danny Sama.
The Kumul Petroleum National Soccer League outfit will then be trimmed down to 23 players prior to the start of the season.
Morris told The National that from an initial 60 players picked from their recent trials, the team had been trimmed down to 35.
“The invitation to players is still open. We will be looking at players at the Wawens Cup in December. We will also be scouting players from the rural area,” he said.
“We are trying to promote players from the rural areas, which falls in line with Morobe Governor Ginson Saonu’s border development programme.
“Following the trials, there were new faces selected. Most of the players from last season are not in the team as we are targeting raw talent for long-term development.”
Franchise owner Andrew Namuesh thanked Finschhafen MP Rainbo Paita and Saonu for assisting in paying their registration for the upcoming season.
“Without these two leaders, Morobe Wawens would not have registered for the season,” he said.
“This club are all about bringing in rural talent that is why most of the players from town had been overlooked as there are many clubs for them to join.
“We’re focusing our attention on the governor’s vision. He wants to bring soccer to the rural areas.”
Namuesh said the club had been without a coach for the last two NSL season and in its first year (2017), had qualified for Oceania Football Confederation Champions League under the guidance of player-coaches.
Squad: Goalkeepers — Alois John (Eriku Wawens), Jason Bendi (Maps Sentas), Yalison Michael (Eriku Wawens), Ishmael Maddang (All Saints); Defenders — Kenneth Pilailo (Eriku Wawens), Donatus Bandi (PS United), Eddie Managa (Eriku Wawens), James Baimbek (Mumeng), Sirak Sengin (Pascols), John Bagaimba (Sobou), Allan Sep (Eriku Wawens), Basil Wisil (Wewak), Sylvester Waffe (Eriku Wawens); Midfielders — Francis Isom, Boas Isom (Maps Sentas), Johannes Bob (Eriku Wawens), Robin Para (Karkar), Ferdallas Namuesh (Eriku Wawens), Yasiling Baimbek (Mumeng), Nevill Wingavi (Bulolo), Richard Waffe (PS United), Jethro Mautaya (Eriku Wawens), John Moasi (Sobou), Flank: Sombo Goro (Eriku Wawens), Iso Muekako (All Saints), Richie Gwaitep (Mumeng), Murry Songan (MFA), Dunken Igunba (PS United)l; Strikers — Joshua Paget (Maps Sentas), Pigu Roger (All Saints), Ceder Steven (Kainantu), Raynold Gwaitep (Mumeng), Ezron Darius (Maps Sentas), Sane Henry (Eriku Wawens), Teddy Tommy (Kalmore).