BY CHARLIE DUMAVI
PAPUA New Guinea National women’s team to Fiji who claimed the historical Oceania Women’s Nation’s Cup title last month want their coach Nicola Demaine to continue her role.
Sunday Bulletin has spoken to players concerning the decision made last week by PNG Football Association (PNGFA) to cease women’s national football team’s head coach Nicola Demaine’s role prior from her contract expiring in November.
A player who wishes to remain unanimous said the girls have talked about this issue amongst themselves and are not happy with the decision by PNGFA.
“We do not agree and we want our coach to be with us until November.
“She is our coach and like a mother to us.
“If you guys (PNGFA) don’t want her to be the head coach let her, be our assistance coach.
“We cannot do anything but appeal to PNGFA and
hope for a better outcome.
“There are differences in camp but we are working on bonding with the new players, we want to do this not for the country,” she said.
Despite the situation this paper has also confirmed on Friday 26, 2022that players in camp are in training.
Moreover, PNGFA President JohnbKapi Natto clarify that they are only ceasing the contract and not terminating the coach as the team prepares for the inter-continental play off in New Zealand next year.
He said the decision is done following recommendations from the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) to appoint someone who can take the team to next level.
“We looked at all the recommendation from the management and the OFC, because we must understand that PNG is not representing itself.
“We are now representing 10 member countries in the Oceania football.
“OFC have to come in.
“If you look at the last five Pacific Games, we have not brought any foreign coaches.
“We have worked with all the former PNG National Coaches who have taken PNG to the Pacific Gold.
“Somehow this year we just took abcoach that we brought in which is Nicole.
“Now her coaching contract ends in November, just only two months away.
“We are not even terminating her we are trying to cease her contract because we are heading into the stage two now.
“We are trying to replace or put someone in there who can take us to the next level.
“The stage two level is not an easy level, we will be competing against the world teams,” Nato said.
PNFA Technical Director Paul Isarua added that they appreciate Demaine’s contributions to the teamvand would want the local coaches to learn.
“We would very much want them (local coaches) to learn from the expertise that is coming in.
“We are allowing Percy to take lead in these preparations with Nicola to assist with any technical help or anything,” Isarua said.
Mataio was assistant coach to the women’s team now taking over thebrole.
However, Demaine could notcomment on this as she was advised not to talk to the media.
Furthermore, the players in camp at Port Moresby cludes players from the extended squad list who are brought in to allow injured players to recover from injuries sustain in Fiji and are not newly selected.
PNG WNT team in camp:
WNT Faith Kasiray, Phylis Pala, Betty Sam, Michalyn Butubu, Lace Kunei, Cynthia Pulou, Lucy Maino, Meagan Gunemba, Margaret Joseph,bCalista Maneo, Gloria Laeli, Marie Kaipu, Olivia Upaupa, Charlie Yandin, Shalom Waida, Sherida Rimboa, Serah Waida, Lavinia Hola, Fidorah Namuesh, Cynthia Bangita, Rayleen Bauelua, Ramona Padio, and Rumona Morris.
