Most of the players, who now have a highly-respected coach in the form of Australian Frank Farina, were brought together in Port Moresby this week to be put through their paces as preparations get underway for the Pacific Games campaign.
Farina, who played professionally in Europe and coached Australia for six years from 1999, was only unveiled as the new boss last month and was not in attendance at the sessions. But he is expected to arrive in Port Moresby after the national league grand final on April 26 and will begin casting his eye over the talent at his disposal.
A total of 28 players, hailing from the Eastern Stars and Hekari United clubs, took part in the training at the Sir John Guise Stadium and several notable names were among them, such as Stars’ top scorer Felix Bondaluk, Hekari captain David Muta and local hero Kema Jack.
Members of other clubs in Lae and Madang have also been selected for the training squad but are putting in the hard yards away from the Port Moresby-based players in their respective home towns.
The national women’s team have likewise begun their build-up to the Pacific Games under coach Steven Mune.
A national women’s league has been put into place this season and is likely to bear fruit as Papua New Guinea attempt to repeat their heroics of the last Pacific Games in Samoa four years ago.
The side took home the title on that occasion after losing only one of its four group matches and going on to beat Tahiti 5-0 in the semi-final and Tonga 3-1 – thanks to goals from Daisy Winas, Ara Midi and Lydia Banabas – in the final.
The result meant they advanced to meet New Zealand in a play-off game for a spot at the 2008 Olympics but they could not keep their winning run going and fell to a 2-0 defeat.
The men will not find it anywhere near as hard to fill the boots of their predecesors – Papua New Guinea did not enter the men’s tournament at the last Games but are likely to mean business this time.
The appointment of Farina is a clear sign of their intent as the side looks to finish in the top three and earn the chance to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
The top three teams from the Pacific Games will square off against New Zealand to find Oceania’s representative to meet the fifth-placed Asian qualifier for a place at the World Cup.
For more on Papua New Guinea football go to www.pngfootball.com.pg