Papua New Guinea women’s national team coach Nicola Demaine has named a strong squad to participate in next week’s Tri-Nations Series 2022 in Singapore.
Hosted by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) the series will see Papua New Guinea play both hosts, Singapore, and fellow invitees Seychelles between the 4-11 April.
These matches will see the 49th ranked Papua New Guinea play its first international opponents since the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa where they won their fifth successive gold medal.
The English-born Demaine, an A-Licence accredited coach was also at the games in Samoa, leading the host nation to the silver medal.
She has overseen several camps since her arrival in December 2021 and has named a strong squad which draws on both experience and youth.
A large majority of the squad have appeared either at the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games or the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup on home soil and almost all of those named have played a part in various qualifying campaigns in the region.
The Seychelles women’s side has yet to earn a place in the FIFA World Rankings but have shown vast improvement since playing their first international game in 2021.
In a Three Nations Tournament featuring Maldives and Saudi Arabia, Seychelles were beaten 1-0 by their hosts Maldives before turning that into a triumphant 4-0 victory. The first win in the team’s history coming over a side then-ranked 152nd in the world.
In order to be ranked, a nation has to play six FIFA sanctioned internationals, and that milestone for Seychelles is due to come against their hosts, with PNG to be their seventh.
Seychelles are currently being coaches by former Singapore international Angeline Chua Ki Yi, who has overseen the side since it’s first match in 16 years against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in September 2021.
Singapore meanwhile are currently ranked 135th in the world and will be playing their first international matches since September 2021 when they took part in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup Qualifiers in Tajikistan.
Singapore coach Stephen Ng has named a squad he hopes will build on the momentum they built during that compeititon.
“It is vital for us to continue the development we have made since the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers and keep building on it. To do this, we need to have more competitive action to be able to test the different dynamics within the squad, and for the players to keep pushing themselves to get to the next level,” he said.
“Seychelles and Papua New Guinea will be a good challenge and it will be a way to benchmark our progress.”
Papua New Guinea squad for Tri-Nations Series in Singapore:
- Margaret JOSEPH; Bara FC, PNG
- Kesai KATOME; Bara FC, PNG
- Charlie MARIP; Bara FC, PNG
- Fidelma WATPORE; Port Moresby Strikers FC, PNG
- Lucy MAINO; Port Moresby Strikers FC, PNG
- Lavina HOLA; Port Moresby Strikers FC, PNG
- Yvonne GABONG; Port Moresby Strikers FC, PNG
- Rayleen BAUELUA; Port Moresby Strikers FC, PNG
- Ramona PADIO; Port Moresby Strikers FC, PNG
- Asaiso GOSSIE; Goroka University, PNG
- Faith KASIRAY; NCD Hekari United FC, PNG
- Shalom WAIDA; NCD Hekari United FC, PNG
- Rumona MORRIS; NCD Hekari United FC, PNG
- Sonia EMBAHE; NCD Hekari United FC, PNG
- Marie KAIPU; NCD Hekari United FC, PNG
- Meagan GUNEMBA; Poro FC, PNG
- Olivia UPAUPA; Tusbab Laidamon FC, PNG
- Isabella NATERA; Tusbab Laidamon FC, PNG
- Sagude ZALE; Tusbab Laidamon FC, PNG
- Joan UTTIE, Unattached, PNG
Match details:
8 April, 2022
Seychelles v Papua New Guinea
Jalan Besar Stadium
Kick-off: 8.30pm local (10.30pm PNG)
11 April, 2022
Singapore v Papua New Guinea
Jalan Besar Stadium
Kick-off: 8.30pm local (10.30pm PNG)