PNG football chief lambasts senior players
The head of the PNG Football Association says attitude and discipline within the men's national team must be improved at all levels, prior to the World Cup qualifiers in Qatar next month.
Association president John Kapi Natto made the statement after witnessing the recent match between the PNG Kapuls and the President's XI side in Port Moresby.
The PNG National Soccer League was suspended in mid March. Photo: PNG Football Association
He told the Post-Courier several penalties were conceded by senior international players due to a lack of discipline.
Kapi Natto said for a national side to display such a performance is unacceptable and that can't carry on to Qatar.
He said players earned their spot in the national side because of discipline and they must maintain that attitude whilst preparing for international fixtures.
"This is an international match and every Papua New Guinean, including foreign coaches will be watching on live-stream on the performance we put out there, so let's improve on this area," said Kapi Natto.
He said the second friendlies will determine where the PNG Kapuls stand.
Meanwhile, the national side is on a break and will resume training on Monday February 7, and depart for Qatar in the first week of March.
Fiji makes new plans after tour canned
The Fiji Football team's warm-up tour ahead of the FIFA World Cup preliminary competition in Qatar has been cancelled.
The team was due to travel to Australia to face three A-League teams as a build-up to the qualifiers in Qatar.
Fiji Football President Rajesh Patel said the decision was made after taking into consideration the players and management's welfare.
Patel says the national side will now leave for Qatar earlier in March and play friendly matches in Doha before the qualifiers.
All players in the national team will be released to their respective districts in the first two rounds of the Digicel Premier League.
The final squad will march into camp on February 21 at the Fiji Football Association Academy in Ba.
Oily flagbearer at Games once again
The Winter Olympics opening ceremony has once again featured an oily, shirtless flagbearer.
At the opening ceremony for Beijing 2022, Nathan Crumpton, walked out as the lone of American Samoa representative in temperatures of five minus degrees to big cheers.
He follows Tonga's Pita Taufatofua who was Tonga's popular flagbearer at the 2016 Olympics.
Crumpton is competing in skeleton, and also competed at the Tokyo Olympics last year in the 100-metres.
His heat starts on Thursday morning.