With home ground advantage, and the weight of expectant supporters on their side, football is just one of the sports Papua New Guinea is hoping to secure gold with.
But with plenty of challengers, including 2011 defending champions New Caledonia, it won’t be an easy run for the hosts who finished outside of the top four in 2011.
However, with their first camp lined up, and new head coach Wynton Rufer guiding them, the national team expect to be in peak physical condition come July 2015.
A 30 man squad has been named to attend the camp which is being held at the PNG Football Academy in Lae from 23-27 June.
Nine-time National Soccer League champions and 2014 OFC Champions League representatives Hekari United are well represented in the squad with David Muta and fellow midfielder Nigel Dabinyaba in alongside defenders Koriak Upaiga and Kila Polena.
Also named is 2013 OFC U-20 Championship attendees Alwin Komolong, now based in the USA, and Patrick Aisa of Eastern Stars.
Senior Men’s Training Squad:
Goalkeepers:
Ronald WARISAN (Lae FC)
Leslie KALAI (Hekari United)
Ismael POLE (Hekari United)
Defenders
Agi MOSES (Lae FC)
Japhet TIEMPO (Lae FC)
Daniel JOE (Hekari United)
Koriak UPAIGA (Hekari United)
Jeremy YASASA (Gigira)
Valentine NELSON (Gigira)
Kila POLENA (Hekari United)
Vincent WORIO (Gigira)
Midfielders
David MUTA (Hekari United)
Neil HANS (Hekari United)
Emanuel SIMON (Gigira)
Basil JAFORA (Eastern Stars)
Rodney MOBIHA (Eastern Stars)
Eluide FUGRE (Gigira)
Michael FOSTER (Admirality)
Liena GENO (Oro FC)
Hanson TOPIO (Gigira)
Eric KOMENG (Hekari United)
Vanya MALAGIAN (Gigira)
Nigel DABINYABA (Hekari United)
Patrick AISA (Eastern Stars)
Attackers
Gari MOKA (Oro FC)
Alwin KOMOLONG (USA)
Tommy SEMMY (Besta FC)
Raymond GUNEMBA (Hekari United)
Kema JACK (Hekari United)
Jamal SEETO (Gigira)
For more on Papua New Guinea football go to www.pngfootball.com.pg

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