Three young football talents from Madang Province have been selected to represent Papua New Guinea in the upcoming OFC Under-16 Tournament in Port Moresby this month.
The three players departed Madang this morning for Port Moresby to join the national Under-16 squad in preparation for the tournament.
Following the Under-16 school festival and trial matches hosted by the Madang Soccer Association at Laiwaden Oval, the selection results have delivered positive outcomes for the province, with three players earning places in the national squad.
The selected players are Chriszanne Sifas (16) from Biliau Village in Rai Coast District, Talitha Mou (16) from Banab Village in Sumkar District, and Delma Duadak (16) from Malmal and attends Malmal Primary School in Madang District, Ward 6 (Ambenob).
Talitha and Chriszanne previously participated in the Governor’s Cup held in Biliau, Rai Coast, where they showcased their talent and earned selection into the Madang U16 trials. They later progressed through further trials and a three-day training camp in Lae, Morobe Province, where final selections were made.
Expressing their gratitude, Talitha thanked everyone who supported their journey.
“Thank you to everyone who made this happen for us,” she said.
She also acknowledged the support from Madang Governor Ramsey Pariwa and the Madang Soccer Association for creating pathways for young players.
Talitha encouraged other young boys and girls to take part in sports, saying it provides opportunities to showcase talent and represent both province and country.
Meanwhile, Delma Duadak, who plays as a striker for Malmal FC in the women’s division, said she is excited about the opportunity and extended her best wishes to her teammates.
“I want to extend my best wishes to my teammates from Malmal FC for their weekend games,” she said.
Her father, Willie Mou, also expressed pride in his daughter’s achievement and acknowledged those who supported the initiative.
“As a father, I am proud to see my daughter reach this level through the pathway created. Opportunities come to those who are disciplined,” he said.
“Opportunity is like an egg; you have to be very careful and use it wisely.”
He added that he is proud of all three players and wished them well as they prepare to represent the country in Port Moresby.
Madang Soccer Association General Secretary John Maripal also thanked partners and sponsors, including Globe Manufacturing Limited and Sigma Construction Limited, as well as the organizing committees of the Madang School Soccer under leadership of chairlady, Pauline Kadui and MSA.
“Thank you to all our partners and sponsors. It is pleasing to see that we now have three players from our province selected,” he said.
The players departed this morning from Madang to Port Moresby.
The selection of the three players highlights the growing football talent in Madang and the importance of grassroots programs in developing young athletes for national representation.
