Women’s football team finalising preparations

National women’s soccer coach Frederica Sakette and her assistant Margaret Aka are finalising their Pacific Games preparations this week.
“Our preparations are going really well,” Aka said.
“The players are working hard and with the full team together its easier to work with everyone.
“We have 23 players in this final two-week camp in Port Moresby, which kicked off last Monday, where the players have been put through their paces in fitness drills and a handful of training sessions.
“The main focus last week was on attack and defence so we can see where the players are and see what we need to improve on, as well as what they need to do on their own.
“This week, the focus will be on set pieces and positional play.
“The team are balanced in terms of positions and we have enough players to cover each other but it will be a massive task for us, especially knowing that Fiji are in our pool.
“Fiji beat us 5-1 in the OFC Nations Cup semifinal in New Caledonia last year and they’ll be looking forward to repeat that.
“But we are preparing hard to be on top against them.”
Sakette and Aka have brought in veteran Deslyn Siniu to provide leadership and support to the younger girls.
“We are glad to have Deslyn in the team with support from US-based Lucy Maino and other of experienced players to take the lead,” Aka said.
“The atmosphere in the camp has been positive, everyone coordinating well and talking to each other, encouraging each other so that’s a good sign that we have a team who can play together.”
The aim of the team is to defend their title as the football queens of the Pacific and return with gold.