National men’s football squad to attend training camp

Sports

THE national men’s football squad will attend a two-week training camp at Papua New Guinea Football Association’s education centre at 11-Mile outside Lae, says technical director Paul Isorua.
He said the National Control Centre had yet to approve the resumption of the National Soccer League season, so the camp had been brought forward to prepare for the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers in Qatar.
“The training camp will be hosted at the education centre in compliance with the Coronavirus (Covid-19) measures,” Isorua told The National yesterday.
“Covid-19 protocols will be maintained on and off the field through split training sessions throughout the camp.
“The squad will have small matches, physical workouts in groups of 10, and planned outdoor and indoor sessions.
“All activities will be carried out as per the Covid-19 measures on gatherings of persons to be controlled between 20 and less.”
Isorua said the squad, including the Port Moresby-based players, would be based in Lae for two weeks. When asked how the camp would affect the National Soccer League if approval was given during the two weeks to resume the season, Isorua said they had a back-up plan to disband the camp.
“The squad will convene in camp as negotiations are ongoing between the competitions department and the Office of the National Pandemic Response Controller for approval to resume the season,” he said.
“The competition will not be affected.
“We have a back-up plan to disband the training camp and allow players to return to their clubs.
“We have considered this situation before going ahead with the camp, which will be begin on Thursday.”