The Australian hopes to guide his charges to their fourth gold medal at the upcoming Pacific Games, as well as earn themselves a place in Stage 2 of the Olympic Qualifiers.
To aid in the required build-up, the team will do an 18-day tour of South-East Asia which includes four international fixtures against the Singapore national team and Thailand, who are currently on a European tour as they conduct preparations of their own for the 2015 Woman’s World Cup in Canada.
Thailand is currently ranked 31st in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings and Singapore 100th with Papua New Guinea nestled in between the two sides at 48th.
Philips is relishing the opportunity to be able to prepare his squad with some exciting fixtures against quality opponents.
“To play any team competing at that level will be a magnificent challenge especially with Thailand who are well advanced in their preparation for Canada. This is a big opportunity after our disappointment of losing to New Zealand and missing out on a World Cup spot of our own.”
He said the team’s preparations are paramount to producing gold at the Pacific Games and success here is doubly important with the winner to play in the home-and-away series against New Zealand’s Football Ferns, currently ranked 18th in the world, to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.
“This Asian Tour is also a chance to regain our focus and refine our technical and tactical qualities, while at the same time a chance for a couple of new faces to impress and gain a place in the final Pacific Games squad,” Philips notes.
“Thanks to the generous support of the PNG Olympic Committee and the PNGFA, preparations for the 2015 July Pacific Games will be unprecedented.”
The 21-strong squad will leave for Singapore on the 28th of February with matches against Singapore scheduled for 4 and 6 March.
The team will then spend nine days in Thailand with games aginst the national team programmed for 11 and 14 March, before the squad returns home on the 16 March.
For more on Papua New Guinea football visit www.pngfootball.com.pg

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