Tupani was part of the Papua New Guinea U-20 international team that played in Fiji last year and manager Percy Maitao says the forward is a welcome addition to his squad.
“We have just one player from the OFC U-20 Championship here in Freddy Tupani and it’s helpful for our squad.
“We need all the help we can get and Freddy’s experience is a big boost for the team,” Maitao says.
Another player who is set to play a key role has a famous football name in Papua New Guinea – goalkeeper Kusuga Komolong.
“Kusuga is a good goalkeeper and he’s doing everything right for us so we’ll see how he performs come game time,” Maitao says.
Papua New Guinea finished as also-rans at the last OFC U-17 Championship in Luganville and managed to score just twice in what was a disappointing campaign for OFC’s biggest nation.
Maitao says that the mood in his squad remains positive and free from the weight of past competitions.
“At the moment the team looks comfortable, we are getting ready, getting prepared, we’re looking good.
“We’re just doing the little things right and getting focused for the games ahead,” he says.
Drawn in a tough section with five times champions New Zealand, New Caledonia, Fiji, co-hosts Samoa and Cook Islands means there is no room for error as the jostle for semi-finals places begins.
Working in Papua New Guinea’s favour is their domestic training camp that Maitao believes will bear fruit once the action starts.
“We’ve been together for about two months now and everybody has gelled together well and enjoyed the preparatory camp.
“Its all about getting the little things right. Yesterday we trained but it was a bit patchy because of the weather but the future looks promising for us. Now we’re looking forward to the games,” he says,
Papua New Guinea have never finished higher than third place at the OFC U-17 Championship before, a finish they achieved in 2001 behind Australia and New Zealand respectively.
Their two best results at this level include a 2-1 win over the Solomon Islands and a 7-0 thrashing of American Samoa in Apia 14 years ago.
They also defeated the Cook Islands 4-0 four years later in Noumea, New Caledonia, thanks to a hat-trick by Martin Phonohelan and one from now senior international regular Niel Hans.
Maitao: Tupani could give us an edge
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