Young Daniel Kill Sakora has potential in soccer and dreams of becoming a goalkeeper for the Papua New Guinea (PNG) National Football team, the Kapuls, in the future.
16-year-old Daniel, who is mixed parentage of Madang and Morobe, plays for PTC United Football Club at Lahi Football Association in Lae city, Morobe province.
At the age of just nine years, he heard stories of his uncles, Richard and Billy Daniels who were strongholds of Sobou Football club. Sobou FC was the country’s champion from 2004 to 2007 at that time. Richard was the lead mid fielder and Billy was his smart combination play mate who led the team during that time.
Daniel never had the chance of watching his two uncles during those times but as he grew up, he had a chance of watching his elder siblings Nathasa Sakora and Emmanuel Airem. This gave him a deeper challenge of one day that he should take to the field to be like his uncles and siblings.
At the age of 13 years old, he started playing for PTC United FC at Lahi Football Association and with the words of encouragement from the family, Daniel took seriously his training sessions and games. His games improved from time to time with every match. And it was through Wawens Soccer Tournament in 2022 where Daniel stood out and got the officials attention. He was identified and selected to play with Northern Teens FC.
This year Daniel got his first ever experience of playing outside of the city where he was born and raised. Looking back at his childhood days where he used to imagine how he would take a soccer field in future like his siblings, this selection to play in the National Youth Soccer League is a steppingstone for him.
“This is my first time to play at the national youths’ level, but I have the confidence to take it on from there. I have faith in myself of one day to play and represent the country,” Daniel said.
Being a soccer goal keeping might look like an easy job; however, success as goalkeepers comes only to those who know what to do with the ball in different situations. The position of goalkeepers in football is both interesting and significant. As a goalkeeper, one acts as the last line of defense for the team; the leadership and organizational skills also determine success.
Think that football is like playing a game of chess. Everyone on the ground has an important part to play. However, as a goalie, you are the only man standing on the 18-yard box who can use your hands without invoking a whistle from the referee. When your teammates look up to you, you need to have the cunning and proper decision-making abilities to beat your opponents both physically and mentally with the right technicalities.
Young Daniel is also a grade 7 student at the Taraka Primary School, and he has balanced well his studies and the game.
He played very well in the recent National Youth Soccer League. He saved most of the strikes to defend his team Northern Teens FC, who made it to the grand final and won.
The Northern Teens FC has now qualified for the Under 19 Oceania Federation Cup (OFC).