Protocols affecting game: Coach

MOROBE Wawens say the sport’s new Covid-19 procotols have taken a toll on Kumul Petroleum National Soccer League teams with strict measures on their movements.
After their 0-3 loss to Vitiaz United in Port Moresby Saturday, Wawens acting head coach Charlie Foike said they would need to adjust to the “new normal” in football.
“With the protocols, it’s also one of the factors that has affected our performance,” he said.
‘We usually come in and do things freely but with the protocols, we had a lot of things not go our way like our buses didn’t get to us on time and we came late and we had to rush to the field to warm up.
“Psychologically, we weren’t prepared to take the field but we can’t blame anyone for that because these are new procedures in place.”
Foike said the timing in their preparations did not allow for them to address their plans on game day with possession a key part of their strategy.
“We wanted to hold onto the ball more and confuse their strikers, midfielders and backline until we could penetrate their defence,” he said.
“That’s what we did for a short time but we went astray and that’s when they (Vitiaz) came back into the game.”