1 week Ago By Marcia Negri
Soccer The Boys from Fisherman Island will be making their debut at the OFC Beach Soccer Men’s Nations Cup next week in Solomon Islands, and will leave to compete tomorrow. This is significant for the country participating for the first time in beach soccer but what’s even more significant is the boys from Fisherman Island having to travel for the first time on the plane. The Mens PNG national team is referred to as the PNG Paewas (Sharks).
Twenty-two-year-old Goal Keeper Karo Eiwana, said this all their first international trip and airplane ride except Skipper Kopi Samuel who has travelled as part of the United Highlands FC squad. “This is our first time to travel for all our boys, most of the time we travel on the boat and it feels good to get on the plane and travel out to see other countries, it’s my first time to travel on the plane and the same applies to all the boys as well, their first time too. These boys we are all cousins and live in the village and used to play together, fifteen to sixteen years that’s how long we all have been friends for as I am now 22.
We stay together as a community.” Coach Babob Kori Labong said all the boys will get on the plane for the first time tomorrow (Saturday) except Skipper Kopi Samuel, “all of them its their first time to get on a plane except our captain and goal keeper Kopi Samuel he was with United Highlands in PSL and he is required by the national team so we picked him out to represent the country.” Labong said they are honoured to represent the country in beach soccer in its first ever participation in the code.
He said all the boys are divers and Fisherman is where they supply fish to Koki and earn their living. Labong said they have been training for the last six months since receiving the news to represent PNG at the OFC Beach Soccer Men’s Nations Cup. “We began training for the last six months since we received the news that we will be representing PNG at SI, and in our training sessions the boys are looking alright.
And our advantage is the sand and the boys with the session they have met the requirements it’s a new thing so I cannot elaborate more on it and we started with 20 and removed 8 and are left with the final 12, as the requirement for OFC Beach Soccer is only 12 will represent the country to take part,” added Labong. Match Fixtures Matches to be held at SIFF Beach Soccer Pitch 22 October, Tuesday 1PM- PNG vs Fiji 23 October, Wednesday 3PM- Solomon Islands vs PNG 24 October, Thursday 1PM- PNG vs Tahiti.
