by Lorraine Genia – EM TV Sports, Port Moresby
The PNG Pukpuks remain in first place on the 2015 Oceania Cup ladder, with two wins under their belt.
Tahiti, who sit on second place, will face a fronting American Samoa outfit in game one on Sunday, while PNG take on Solomon Islands at 3.30pm.
While Solomon Islands are yet to perform, coach Phillip Campbell says they will not rule themselves out and make sure his team puts on a physical game against the Pukpuks.
Solomon Islands coach, Phillip Campbell, said, “I know PNG would like to take this title, but it won’t be easy for them, I guarantee that. This game will certainly be physical. There will be a lot of aggression. We’ve lost two games, and this game is more on pride than anything.”
With one hand already on the cup, PNG Pukpuks coach, Sydney Wesley, has no concerns with his current team, and line up for their final game on Sunday.
“We know Solomon Islands don’t want to walk away from this tournament without a win, and we’ve been driving that into the players. We know the job is not yet complete, until the final whistle on Sunday,” said Wesley.
Pukpuks captain Tissa Kautu confident; this year’s cup is theirs.
“This is my first time to captain the nation team. We must win this cup, and keep it here. Cook Islands took it off us in 2013, this time it’s staying here.”
Meanwhile, the game between American Samoa and Tahiti should determine the runners up of the tournament, in second place.
The American Samoan’s who fronted their first defeat against the PNG Pukpuks have identified areas in which they can dominate, come game day on Sunday against the hot red Tahitian outfit.
Tahiti’s team manager today also confirmed a number of changes to their starting side.
Christopher Guilain will sit out of the final match due to his religious beliefs.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=BpRsAptuT1c%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
