PNG back depth

By PATRICIA KEAMO
PAPUA New Guinea are primed to face Samoa in their Oceania Football Confederation Women’s Nations Cup semifinal at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva, Fiji, today (2pm kick-off, PNG time).
Head coach Nicola Demaine said despite Marie Kaipu suffering an injury, she was confident that her side had the depth to fill the void against Samoa.
The Englishwoman will face her former employers who she had coached in the 2018 edition of the tournament and the 2019 Pacific Games.
“We’ve analysed Samoa in training and have looked at how we can nullify any threat they may pose and exploit their weaknesses,” Demaine told The National yesterday.
“We’re aiming to win the semifinal for a spot in the final against the Solomon Islands or Fiji.”
She said her focus was PNG despite Samoa being her former employers.
“The fact that I had coached Samoa means we have a good understanding of what we are dealing with and how to nullify any threats,” Demaine said.
“My message to the team is keep our heads, channel nerves into excitement about the game and play our own football.”
Meanwhile, Demaine said Tonga had given them a good run for their money in their quartefinal last Saturday.
“We knew we let ourselves down with our final passes, so we worked on improving that and being more patient in front of goal,” Demaine said.
The eventual winner of the tournament will represent the region in an inter-confederation playoff next year in New Zealand against nine other nations for the three remaining spots in the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup.
PNG: Faith Kasiray, Lucy Maino, Margaret Joseph, Olivia Upaupa, Gloria Laeli, Rayleen Bauelua, Rumona Morris, Ramona Padio, Charlie Yanding Sonia Embahe, Meagan Gunemba.