Venues will be ready

WORK on the 17 training fields and four match venues remain a priority for the National Government in preparation for the Fifa Under-20 Women’s Soccer World Cup in November.
PNG Sports Foundation chief executive officer Peter Tsiamalili Jr, pictured, said this during a workshop held by the local organising committee and venue owners last Wednesday.
The gathering was one of a series of meetings conducted by the committee with stakeholders as Port Moresby prepares to host the premier football event for young women from November 13 to December 3 in the PNG capital.
A similar meeting was held with other stakeholders, including the Foreign Affairs Department, last week.
Tsiamalili maintained that there will be four training fields at Bisini, one at the Sir John Guise Stadium, two at Murray Barracks, two at the University of Papua New Guinea, two at the Institute of Public Administration, two at Gerehu Secondary School, one at Gordon Secondary School, two at the Port Moresby National High School and one at the Port Moresby International School.
He said it was the government’s responsibility to put the infrastructure in place.
“The government’s part is to put the infrastructure in place so that the local organising committee can do the overlay,” Tsiamalili said.
“We prepare the foundations and they will come and make sure that the pitch and the training fields are in compliance with the requirements of the individual teams.”
The PNGSF chief executive officer said there was a standard requirement for all the training fields but there were specifications which the 16 teams wanted so the local organising committee needed to accommodate that.
Tsiamalili went on to explain to the training venue owners how far the preparation had come and what to expect on their respective fields.
“They’ve excavated the top-soil and put drenches in. There will be a  proper drainage and irrigation system in compliance to Fifa specifications so you can host any field event.
“That’s the bonus that you have,” Tsiamalili said.
He said the seeding of the fields would start in the first week of August as most of the fields had water tanks.
“By the end of the August you should see grass growing on your fields.”
“Once that is done, ta maintenance schedule that will be developed by our team  will be handed to your team so that there is smooth transition and understanding of how to manage the fields.”
Tsiamalili said work on the 17 training fields was a bonus for the owners because their fields would be brought to a standard that could be used for other international sporting events in the future.