PNG TO PLAY WITH &039;HEART&039; IN WOMEN&039;S OLYMPIC QUALIFIER

PORT MORESBY – “We know we are going in as underdogs but our girls have the hearts to play and exceed expectations. Everyone is very excited.”

Those were the words of Papua New Guinea coach Frank Yallop on the eve of the OFC Women’s Olympic Qualifier at Telikom Park, Port Moresby.

The one-off match will decide who earns the right to compete for Oceania at the Olympic Games in Beijing in August and Yallop knows his side is up against it.

“We know we are below the current standard of New Zealand but if we can get the whole team to come together and work as a unit, we have a chance,” he said.

“For my girls tomorrows match is part of the learning process. We didn’t get the proper lead up matches to see where we stand so it will be a good measuring stick.”

The 2pm kick off will be broadcast Live throughout Papua New Guinea thanks to EMTV. It is the first time in PNG history that a woman’s match has been shown live on television and will be a great day for women’s soccer.

“The girls know they will be in the shop window tomorrow,” Yallop said. “While they’re very excited I Know it won’t have any negative effect on their performance tomorrow.”

Papua New Guinea has enjoyed the status as Oceania’s “second power” in women’s football since the departure of Australia to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 2006.

The country finished in it’s highest ever position at an OFC Women’s Championship in 2007 when it finished runners-up to New Zealand in the race to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup – China 2007.

Daisy Winas and Julie Alau were the star turns for PNG in a campaign that saw the host nation defeat Tonga 1-0 and Solomon Islands 6-1 before eventually losing out to the “Football Ferns” 0-7 at Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium in Lae.

Yallop is dissapointed that his side only had three weeks together to prepare for tomorrow’s match but says his girls have been excellent in the build up.

"We have no star players but instead are one unit. That is the way I have been coaching them and this is the way it must be."

PNG earnt their spot in the Olympic qualifiers by winning the gold medal at the XIII South Pacific Games with a hard fought 3-1 win over Tonga in extra time.

Meanwhile New Zealand will be competing in the Women’s Olympic Qualifiers for the first time since the tournaments conception.

Australia qualified directly in 2000 and New Zealand did not compete in the 2004 qualifiers meaning this year’s Young Ferns will have the first opportunity to reach the Olympics.

Coach John Herdman is not taking the qualifying match lightly and has just competed a three match series with Australia (ranked 12th in the world)in preparation.

While New Zealand lost all three matches Herdman’s side will have learnt a lot about themselves on the tour and rediscovered their goal scoring boots, managing to notch three goals in the three games.

Nine of New Zealand’s sixteen squad members have graduated from the U-20 World Cup squad in Russia two years ago and they will be looking for Leadership from Wendi Henderson, who is eyeing a historic 61st cap to move beyond Maureen Jacobson as the most capped Football Fern.

OFC Women’s Olympic Football Tournament – Papua New Guinea 2008

Papua New Guinea