PNG off to Cook Islands for shot at U20 World Cup spot

PAPUA New Guinea left yesterday for the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Under-19 Women’s Championship in the Cook Islands.
Coach Rachael Wadunah said she was glad to have all her players in Port Moresby over the past week.
The winner of the tournament will qualify as the OFC representatives for next year’s Fifa U20 Women’s World Cup in Nigeria.
Wadunah said the team had been preparing well with morning and afternoon training sessions.
“We are still working on our combinations but I am confident with the players selected despite the short preparation time,” she said ahead of the biennial tournament, which starts on Friday and ends on Sept 12.
“The girls are getting along well and the atmosphere in camp is great. Everyone is looking forward for the tournament.
“We are fortunate to have with us Asaiso Gossie and Shalom Waida, who both attended the Pacific Games with the senior women’s team in Apia, Samoa, last month.
“The two players have boosted the morale of the team as they have been showing lot of experience and are guiding the new ones well.”
PNG are pooled with Tonga and New Caledonia in Group C. The Cook Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands make up Group A while American Samoa, New Zealand, Samoa and Tahiti are in Group C.
The top-two of each pool go through to the playoffs.
PNG’s opening encounter will be against New Caledonia at 6am (PNG time) at Cook Islands Football Academy, Raratonga, on Saturday.
Their second clash will be against Tonga at 6am on Sept 6.
Squad: Benadette Rupi, Fidorah Namuesh, Norma Kasiray, Susan Manas, Nicole Bekio, Abigail Wagol, Shalom Waida, Jerolyn Gala, Asaiso Gossie, Ruth Giada, Kenziro Samson, Sylvia Jangiko, Dephney Pari, Jasmine Vago, Olive Nangan, Christie Maneu, Mareerose Wadunah, Sagude Zale, Carol Albert, Joan Uttie; Officials – Rachael Wadunah (head coach), Bernadine Giobu (assistant coach), Isalyn Modakewau (team manageress), Margaret Aka (technical support).