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| PNG U20 WOmens captain Yvonne Gabong (6) leading the team out Picture by Post Courier Photographer Mark Talia |
By FIDELIS SUKINA
The Papua New Guinea U20 Womens team made history on Sunday in Port Moresby scoring a goal in the team’s first ever appearance at the FIFA U20 Womens World Cup.
Despite bowing out of the tournament the experience has been overwhelming for PNG captain Yvonne Gabong and her band of young PNG women.
Gabong and PNG Coach Lisa Cole were at their final post match conference both happy about the journey over the last 9 months that ended on Sunday.
Gabong had her first goal assist on Sunday that led to a Nicollete Ageva goal, and the out spoken captain had only humility and thanked the team’s performance and
“I was a bit scared as the defense rushed up against me and I was lucky to chip the ball over them for Nicollete to score.
“Unfortunately we haven’t won a game for the country but we did manage to score a goal for the fans, the team has been really playing well and has improved.
“We had a lot of time to learn as much as we could in the tournament and the three games have helped us and I know we will improve, we have played with the best in the world Korea DPR, Brazil and Sweden are Champion teams,” Gabong said
Coach Cole whose contract is for the duration for the World Cup said she will take a break and wait for her next move.
But the coach and her players have done a lot for their growth as young women and good soccer players and emotion was let out before and after the game.
"Some of the players were actually a little sad in the days leading up to the game, because it was going to be their last game in the World Cup and the last game with me. But eventually they were excited for each other, and there was no pressure.”
Cole said to see a team that can play at the highest level at the world stage, needs continued support and that would need continued support.
“To see a team that not only play for PNG but be competitive at the world stage, we need continued investment in the soccer program,” Cole said
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| PNG U20 WOmens captain Yvonne Gabong (6) in action against Sweden Picture by Post Courier Photographer Mark Talia |
Cole has a tentative legacy program that will ensure the team progresses well after the legacy left by the FIFA U20 Womens World Cup that will see the remaining 11 women in the PNG team eligible for the FIFA U20 World Cup in France 2018.
The program is scheduled to start in January 2017 where the selected will train and go to school in Gororka National Sports Institute (NSI) for the first round in Late July 2017 and the second round in Mid August 2017 for the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) qualifie
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