U15 girls bank on better attack

 By HENRY MORABANG

COACH Margaret Aka is wary of defensive flaws in her Under-15 girls soccer team as they prepare for the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China, next week.

PNG is representing the Oceania region in women’s football while Vanuatu is in the men’s tournament. 

The Youth Olympic Games Football tournaments will be held from August 14-27.  

Aka, a former PNG striker who took time out as volunteer to do  football work, was appointed coach of the U15 girls team to the China tournament.

The West New Briton said the girls had the speed, skill and attacking talent but defence was the crucial element that needed improvement.

“We like to attack and can match it with any one, but our defence is the area that needs work and we have been focusing on that a lot,” the former international said. 

Aka with her team left for Nanjing on Saturday, a week early for the Games to acclimatise to the conditions. 

The girls will continue their training while they wait for the start of the tournament. 

PNG will play its first match against Venezuela on Thursday, August 14

Aka said the camp will give the team some extra time to finalise their strategy and approach to the competition.

“We don’t have any experience, but we have talent. All my players are talented,” Aka said.

“I’m not expecting big results but we are going there to show the world that we can play football.”

PNG is in Group A with Venezuela and Slovakia, and Aka said three friendly matches against local clubs in Beijing would be a big help.

“I’m confident the girls will gain from this tournament and their exposure to different styles and levels of football from the participating countries.”