Monday 2 January 2017

Governor calls for world cup squad to be maintained

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, December 11, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)



TAKING cue from Papua New Guinea successfully hosting the 2016 FIFA Under20 Women’s World Cup- NCD Governor has call on the Sports Ministry to maintain the PNG National squad that took part in the tournament.

With PNG’s automatic qualification for being the host- Governor Parkop said the country could go the next level with a qualification through merit if the current investment in the team that rubbed shoulder with the world’s biggest names in women’s football.

Governor Parkop said in a joint conference with the Minister for Sports on Tuesday, that he has gone as far as to beg the minister to maintain the momentum that has taken place as a result of the tournament.

“I want to say with the minister (Justin Tkatchenko) here that I have asked him and begged him that I want our team, team PNG to stay in camp, not to leave,” Parkop said.

“We have invested a lot in them and they have a great coach in Lisa Cole who have come a long way.”

“They can go further in the next world cup if they stay in camp and they keep on going to school in Goroka, they can be ready and qualify for the next World Cup. All we have to do is beat these New Zealanders.”

The host of the 2016 tournament added that the only obstacle in the way of PNG qualifying for another berth in the world cup was New Zealand.

“All the other pacific countries we have beaten them- we have beaten New Caledonia two times in the last two pacific games, 2011 and 2015, so we are gold medalists in the Pacific.”

“We can beat them but we need to maintain the investment that we made and it’s up to the minister and the cabinet. I hope that they come good,” Governor Parkop added.


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