PNG to play friendly ahead of Cup

THE national team will play a friendly match against the Solomon Islands on Saturday in preparation for the July 13-30 Oceania Football Confederation Women’s Nations Cup in Fiji.
Assistant coach Percy Mataio told The National yesterday that preparations for the final 25-man squad were good and they were aiming to go deep into the finals of the tournament.
The winner of the Nations Cup will advance to a playoff tournament which will determine the final three qualification spots for next year’s World Cup which will be hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
“We are looking forward to the friendly which should give us a good observation and review of what we’ve done so far to prepare for the first game against Vanuatu (on July 14),” Mataio said.
“I think our preparations have been good so far.
“We’re slowly getting to where we want to be.
“All our (local) friendly matches have given us the foundation that we need to work on.
“Our last friendly against a Women’s National Soccer League Southern Conference select side was good.
“It pointed out many areas of improvement.
“Hopefully, we can go and do better in Fiji.”
Mataio said while the team’s preparations were good, what mattered was their performances during the tournament.
“We have a good chance of reaching the finals,” he said.
“The whole squad were selected on merit. No-one is here for a free ride. They will go and do their best.
“As the coaching staff, we will do our best too.
“It will come down to how we execute our game plan on the day.
“Hopefully, they begin to understand what we want to achieve as a team.”