By Jeremy Mogi – EM TV Sports, Port Moresby
A lot more work needs to be done to bring the PNG under-20 football squad up to scratch, with the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup now just 12 months away.
Coach, Lisa Cole, said she believes there is definite talent within the squad at present, a lot more chopping and changing of players will need to be done before a quality side can be chosen to represent the country.
Combing both the senior and under-20 squads during their training camp, Cole hopes that the younger group can learn from their experienced counterparts.
While Cole is comfortable with a number of players from within the group, a lot more work needs to be done to improve them to a standard required for the world stage.
Defensively, Papua New Guinea has struggled at international level, and this is also a targeted area that is being worked on.
The task has been difficult, not all players have been available and Cole has had to work without a full group of players.
The focus has been on support and forward play, pressing high, instead of PNG’s traditional laid-back approach.
The World Cup will not be an easy prospect for Papua New Guinea. Two weeks ago, Brazil and Venezuela joined the United States in qualifying for the tournament.
Playing at home, there will be high expectations on a team that currently lacks valuable international experience.
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