OFC U-19 Championship

PNG fall to NZ on Day 5

However, they still went on to top off Group A with a 4-0 win over Papua New Guinea yesterday afternoon.

New Zealand managed the change in conditions and stadium well – all things – considered although their opponents were much more at home climate-wise.

After having their bench completely obliterated by suspensions following the match against Tahiti, Papua New Guinea were left with just two substitutes, including reserve keeper Baxter Morris, for their game against the defending champions.

PNG brothers star against Tonga

Originally from the beautiful Madang province, Jonathan and Abraham grew up in a family devoted to football.

Their father is a coach at the Madang football club in the semi-professional PNG National Soccer League (NSL).

Madang is a province known for producing some of PNG’s top footballers including the Komolong brothers, Alwin and Felix and former Lae City Dwellers striker Raymond Gunemba.

The province is the most football-obsessed region in the Melanesian nation.

PNG U19 squad announced

The Championship will be held from August 5 to August 18.

Except for new inclusion in Stahl Gubag, Joseph Wawai, Laventine Munuo and Cameron Nuabi, coach Harrison Kamake has retained the bulk of his U-17 team that participated in the OFC U-17 Championship in Tahiti last year. 

The team did well by qualifying for the OFC U-17 Championship semi-final for the first time in the nation’s history and lost to New Zealand.

Tonga and Samoa in the driving seat

Samoa also flexed their muscle against their neighbours American Samoa on the opening day of the Qualifier in Rarotonga.

In soaring temperatures at the CIFA Academy, Samoa had to battle hard against their determined cousins in a hotly contested local derby.

Despite creating a number of good goal scoring opportunities Valerio Raccuglia’s side were left frustrated as skipper Gabriel Taumua made a number of crucial tackles in the heart of the American Samoan defence to keep the scores level at the end of the first half.