Southern Highlands prepares to pick up where they left in win

By JILL MIRR
SOUTHERN Highlands will look to pick up from where they left off in last Sunday’s 1-0 win Kuri when they face Simbu Ambai in Mt Hagen this week.
Captain Joyce Wamapiri said her side were preparing for their next Women’s National Soccer League Highlands Conference clash at the Kimininga Police Barracks Oval.
She said they had identified the mistakes from their two matches last weekend and would fix them for the Simbu Ambai clash.
Wamapiri said soccer was new to many Southern Highlands women as they usually competed in rugby league
She said they would use their league inclusion to attract more footballing interest across the province.
“We are looking forward to a tough game against Simbu Ambai,” she said. “We believe in doing our best against any opposition. When we take the field, we aim to compete to the best of our abilities.”
Wamapiri said the experience gained from their previous matches would hold them in good stead for the remainder of the season.
“I’m proud of my team for being competitive,” she said of her team’s debut season so far in the country’s premier women’s football league.
“This is the first of its kind for Southern Highlands women to compete in such a competition.
“Most are students.
“With the majority of attention diverted to rugby league, we want to make a difference in soccer.
“I thank Kuri for a strong game last weekend. All our performances have shown that we have footballing potential here in the Highlands.”
Results: Sat, April 23 – Mommers 2 Goroka 0, Mt Hagen 3 Southern Highlands 0, Kuri 2 Simbu Ambai 3; Sun, April 24 – Goroka 2 Simbu Ambai 1, Southern Highlands 1 Kuri 0, Mommers 1 Mt Hagen 0.