Under-20s in city for friendlies

 By HENRY MORABANG
PAPUA New Guinea’s Under-20 women’s team moved into their Port Moresby camp at Gateway Hotel to prepare for the international tri-nation football challenge in Port Moresby.
Coach Lisa Cole told The National the team were in the capital and would be preparing to meet Japan tomorrow in their first game.
The team had been based at the National Sports Institute since December in preparation for the Fifa U20 Women’s World Cup.
The Japanese soccer team will arrive today and the US team on Wednesday.
The tri-nations series is part of the country’s preparations for the women’s World Cup later this year.
Tickets for the Sir John Guise Stadium-scheduled matches are priced at K10 (outer stands) and K30 (grand stand).
They can be bought at Big Rooster outlets in NCD.
Cole said the visit of the two teams would show her players the level they would need to reach if they wanted to compete on the world stage.
“Japan and the United States are two of the most competitive countries in the world.
“The technical quality and speed of Japan and the heart and athleticism of the US are traits PNG has never played against.” Cole expected the matches to be a huge learning experience and believed that was what her team needed at this point.
“We have some players who have played in OFC events and others who have never played outside of local competitions in PNG,” she said.
“I am proud of the progress the players have made over the last few months.
“They have improved in so many areas but they need to take their game to another level again if they want to compete in the World Cup.
“These games will give us a good gauge of where we are now and where we need to get to.”
Cole said the tournament will be an important first step for her players in figuring out how good they can be.
“These games will help my players understand the little things matter.
“We have made great progress but we are not there yet, not even close. Our best football is still to come.
“Our players have to see the top level they aspire to.”
Cole, who is the former head coach of the Boston Breakers in the National Women’s Soccer League, said the tournament will provide her valuable insight as to which of her players can step up to earn starting positions come the World Cup.
“I want to see who can handle the pressure in a game situation and how quickly they can adapt to the different styles of play.
“Who can apply the concepts we have worked on in training by transferring them to the games.”
The former US goalkeeper said it was an exciting period for football in PNG, with the nation hosting the OFC Nations Cup at the end of this month. “My hope is that the U20 women’s World Cup is just the start of great things to come from this group of players and the PNG women’s soccer programme.”
Tri-Nation fixtures: Tue, May 24 – PNG vs Japan, 7pm; Fri, May 27 – US vs Japan, 7pm; Mon, May 30 – PNG vs US, 7pm.