Train-on squads to start training

THE national men’s and women’s football train-on-squads are scheduled to kick off training in Lae and Port Moresby this month, according to an official. Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) general secretary Pius Letenge told The National yesterday that they were in the preparation stage which included consultations with the managers and technical officials for both squads. He said he would be meeting with the technical officials for the northern and southern conference next week and following that, the training programmes would kick-off at PNGFA’s Education Centre at 11-Mile outside Lae, Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium and Port Moresby’s PNG Football Stadium. “I will be working in close consultation with women’s development officer Margaret Aka and Harrison Kamake (for the men’s squad) to reach a common understanding before training kicks off,” Letenge said. “We have till March 2022 for the men’s qualifiers and June 2022 for the women’s proposed events deadline by the Oceania Football Confederation. “With the men’s National Soccer League (NSL) season coming up, we’ll be monitoring players to identify potential talents. “Although the men’s team are tight, we’ll hold consultations to justify whether there’s a need to include potential players. “But that will all depend on the progress of the current train-on-squad.” Letenge said for the men’s train-on-squad, coaches Erickson Komeng (southern conference) and Bob Morris (northern conference) would resume training. For the women’s squad, the northern conference coaches are Susan Watpore, Edna Thomas, and Rachael Wadunah while the southern conference squad will be headed by Frederica Sakette and Miriam Lanta.