Tkatchenko wishes team well ahead of playoff

FOREIGN Affairs minister Justin Tkatchenko is confident the Papua New Guinea women’s football team are ready to face Panama on Sunday in the Fifa Women’s World Cup inter-confederation playoff on Sunday.
Tkatchenko was on a four-day visit in New Zealand and had the opportunity to meet the women’s team, their coach Spencer Prior and the team management.
“You have gone so far and we are so proud of your achievement, we look forward to successful results,” Tkatchenko said.
“Learn from your mistakes and wins and you only can get better from there. Make Papua New Guinea proud.”
Prior said the girls spent the last two months in New Zealand preparing to achieve something positive.
“We have already held a World Cup for Fifa (Under-20 FIFA Women’s World Cup hosted in Port Moresby in 2016) right on our home soil and some of the girls were a part of that,” he said.
“For them to take it to the next level to try and get into the women’s World Cup is absolutely fantastic.
“Thanks for showing a big interest in women’s football and particularly in this team and hopefully we go and make the people proud.”
PNG defender Lucy Maino said the team was grateful for the support from fans in PNG.
“This is the furthest that any soccer or football team has gone for PNG both men’s and women’s soccer,” Maino said.
“That started off by winning the OFC Nation’s Cup which was the first time for any team PNG to win,” said Maino.