Palais get down to basics in camp

 By WENDY KATUSELE

OVERSEAS-based Marlugu Dixon is yet to join the national women’s sevens side the Palais, who started training in Port Moresby yesterday.

Dixon, who lives in Brisbane  and two other team-mates Lynette Kwarula and Alice Alois are expected to be in camp by Friday.

Kwarula and Alois who live in Port Moresby are still awaiting release from their employers.

Dixon, 27, holds an Australian passport and delays with her visa processing means she will join the team today.

Players from outside Port Moresby are already in camp which began yesterday at the Bomana Correctional Service.

Madang’s soccer-cum-rugby union representative Rumona Morris flew in from Madang at lunch time in time for the camp’s afternoon session at Monier Park.

 Coach Elenoa Kunatuba with deputy Sailosi Druma  put the squad through an early morning session at 5.30am, followed by a midday session at 11am and ended the day with an afternoon session at 4pm.

Kunatuba, who is a former Fiji women’s coach, was hopeful Dixon and her two other team mates would be in camp today.

“I need Marluga, Lynette and Alice in the camp as it is important for team bonding,” Kunatuba said.

The Fijian said Dixon, originally a back, had the size and height to run in a forward role.

Kunatuba was impressed with the speed but handling and ball security were areas that needed improvement.

“There is just a lot of speed with most of the girls quite fit but we need to work on our passing,” Kunatuba said.

Following the first day of the camp, Kunatuba admitted it would be hard to select the final 12 players for the Hong Kong Sevens at the end of the month.