Brazilian coach Marcos Gusmao is back for a second stint in Papua New Guinea, signing on as the new men’s national team head coach ahead of March’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ OFC preliminary competition in Qatar.
The 55-year-old arrived in the capital Port Moresby in the last week of 2021, marking a return to PNG after he was first involved in the coaching set up in the early 2000s.
PNG Football Association President John Kapi Natto confirmed Bob Morris and Pius Letenge would be Gusmao’s assistant coaches and said the group brings with them a wealth of technical experience.
Alongside his role with the men’s national team, Gusmao will also assist the PNGFA technical division with implementing a technical development plan.
PNG will open their qualifying campaign in Qatar with a match against New Zealand on March 18, before facing fellow Group B sides New Caledonia and Fiji.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals of the tournament.
Main photo: Marcos Gusmao (right) arrived in PNG at the end of last year. Credit: PNGFA