Women’s U20 World Cup bid gets K2m boost

 By HENRY MORABANG

THE country’s preparations for the 2016 FIFA Women Under-20 World Cup were boosted with the presentation of K2 million from the National Gaming Control Board.

The funds were a commitment by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to support the PNG U20 women’s soccer team’s preparations for next year.

When handing over the cheque to PNGFA president David Chung, NGCB acting chief executive officer Imelda Agon said she was pleased to announce the K2m sponsorship. 

The funding is part of the Government’s contribution to kickstart preparations.

“It is pleasing to know that our young women are participating in this event,” she said.

She commended Chung for ensuring a sporting event of such magnitude (World Cup) was coming to Papua New Guinea. 

“It is not an easy task and the gaming board applauds him for a job well done.”

Chung said hosting such an event was a chance in a lifetime for PNG and in particular, the young girls in the team.

“I was criticised when I announced that PNG would put its hand up for the U20 women’s World Cup, and now that we have achieved it, we must deliver it,” he said.

The president said the money would be used for training the players locally and overseas, and for hiring an overseas coach to oversee the team. He confirmed that Lisa Cole from USA was the new women’s coach, with Margaret Aka as assistant and Vonnie Kapi Natto was the team manageress. PNGFA will finalise the training squad after two more training camps later this year.

Chung said the only major hurdle was to ask parents to seek leave from the Education Department for their daughters to train full-time as they would be up against professional women’s players from other 15 countries in the tournament.