By Godwin Eki – EMTV Sports, Port Moresby
Vanuatu’s U18 men’s and women’s hockey team arrived in the country today ahead of this year’s U18 Oceania Youth Olympic Qualifiers to be hosted in Port Moresby. Men’s Coach, Maltungtung Nasse, says the men’s team started their training last year and have prepared well for the tournament.
PNG Hockey Federation President, Kaluwin Potuan, says the tournament will feature four countries in Australia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and host PNG.
Team Vanuatu will see both of its men’s and women’s teams compete next week against Australia, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.
Maltungtung Nasse says his players are confident, and are only here for one reason, to win the qualifiers and attend the Youth Olympic Games later this year. He says players have had enough exposure overseas and having played against their senior teams, playing the tournament shouldn’t be a challenge. Maltungtung descried Vanuatu’s first match against Australia, to be a tough and challenging one.
President of PNG Hockey Federation, Kaluwin Potuan, says this year’s U18 Oceania Youth Olympic Qualifiers will determine which team the region will qualify to attend the Youth Olympics in October. He says PNG’s hockey team is well and truly ready to face the rest of Oceania.
Team Australia and Solomon Islands will be arriving on Sunday.
