PNG skipper Raymond Gunemba has called on PNG to rally behind the home team as they march into the semi-finals in the MSG PM’s XI Cup tomorrow against in-form Fiji side at Korman Stadium, Port Vila, Vanuatu.
Prime Minister XI Men Soccer Team coach Harrison Kamake has praised his young side that defeated Vanuatu senior men’s team 1-0 over the weekend at Korman Stadium.
Kamake said he also wanted the boys to get exposure and gain some experience at such a high intensity of international football in the Pacific.
He singled out Moses Joe who blended well with Alwin Komolong and his elder brother Daniel Joe along with Ferdahlas Namuesh to form a solid back-four in the match.
Coach said instructed the young team going into the match that PNG had 7 yellow cards going into the game, and the players had to play smart because the team couldn’t afford to lose key players for the semifinals.
He said players like Ferdahlas Namuesh, Moses Joe, Pala Paul, Obert Simon, Yagi Yasasa, Joseph Waiwai and Australia-based Israel Grese played very well coming off the bench.
“I have to give credit to the boys who played strongly and denied Vanuatu team from scoring,” he said.
“We have seen many things during the game, but we tried executing some while others we could not. I must commend skipper Raymond Gunemba for his outstanding effort in both the first game and the second game for leading the boys to a 1-0 victory,” he said.
Kamake said Sunday was a rest day.
“The players went to a local church yesterday and slept whole day to recover from their hectic match against the Vanuatu senior side.”
Captain Gunemba was pleased with the win. “The boys gave their best to come this far. It was very pleasing to see the young guns have stepped up to secure the win, something which will go down in the football books for them to record a win against the star-studded side from Vanuatu”.
He said as the captain, he could not ask for more but urged PNG community to rally behind them come Tuesday when they meet Fiji in the semi finals.
PNG will play Fiji in the first semifinals while Vanuatu Development Side to play Solomon Island in the second semifinals.
“Fiji is a quality side who have so far won 1 match against New Caledonia and drew with Solomon Islands,” he said.
“I have identified few areas to work on and have urged the boys to play to their best of their ability. We must play to our full strength with smart football to beat our opponents,” he added.
He thanked the PNG Community in Port Vila for coming out in numbers to support the team.
“In fact, they are making us the PNG team feel at home when we hear the local crowd getting behind us. We want the kind of support and urged PNG locals in Vanuatu to turn up in numbers to lend their support against Fiji on Tuesday.”