PNG U19 team upbeat

By ISAAC LIRI
WHEN they left last month for the U19 OFC Championships in Tahiti, the national team departed with high spirits.
The bulk of the players were part of the successful OFC U17 Championships last February under the watchful eyes of coach Harrison Kamake.
They made it to the semifinal where they went down to New Zealand 2-1.
Prior to preparing for the OFC tournament, the majority of the players were competing in the National Soccer League with Besta PNG United.
For the first time, United made it to grand final where they lost to Toti City FC.
Prior to their arrival in Papeete, Tahiti, on Monday, the team had a friendly with Manurewa Academy in New Zealand.
Despite losing 3-2, Kamake said he was satisfied with the team’s performance.
Kamake understands that they are slotted in a very tough pool with hosts Tahiti and New Zealand.
However, he will be banking on his players to pick up from where they left off last year.
“We are in a tough pool against two of the region’s top football playing nations but our aim is to finish on top,” Kamake said
PNG are pooled in group A with New Zealand, Tonga and Tahiti, while group B consists of the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji.
PNG are tipped as favourites to beat Tonga in their first group encounter on Sunday, but Kamake has advised his players not to underestimate the Polynesians.
Their biggest tests will be against New Zealand on Wednesday and Tahiti on Aug 11.
PNG’s midfielders Ricky Wadunah and Emmanuel Simongi both had stellar a season in with United and will be key to directing play.
Strikers Jonathan Allen and Barthy Kerobin will be expected to be lethal in front of goal.