World Footy News

A quick reminder of the success of the PNG lads in the Oceania U16s tournament in mid December, the following 4 articles tracked their performance in the PNG press via ‘The National’. 

Coverage is very important in PNG as being an aspirational sporting nation, looking to make it into the ICC cricketing top 18 and with a Government looking to take over the national rugby league with a view to establishing a PNG side in Australia’s NRL – it can’t be understated the importance of the PNG ‘AFL’ sides generating coverage.

Dec 17, “AFL Jrs in fine form “

Dec 20, “AFL Juniors in Final”

Dec 21, “PNG Jrs win Cup”

PNG’s Jason Soong was named the best player of the match, while Theo Gavuri won the player of the tournament award for his dominance in centre field.
The Oceania Cup victory is a fitting finale for PNG who have prepared so well after a year of bonding through the AFL Academy programme at De La Salle Boys Secondary School, and regular training sessions at the UPNG sporting grounds.
And the ultimate result should be credited to the commitment and tireless efforts of the AFL PNG staff including coach Yangomina. Yangomina said the tournament was attended by AFL International Football executives and there were scouts from Brisbane Lions, Geelong Cats and Hawthorn Hawks throughout the tournament.

And the final wrap

Dec 23, “PNG the toast of Oceania”

A tired but proud coach Walter Yangomina described the boys performance as something they had been building up to for most of year and was the result of the team playing in different tournaments. “The boys were very good in Tonga.
“They’ve been together as a group for one year now at the AFL Academy and they’ve played at and lost to eventual Queensland state champions by 10 points so you could say they were battle-hardened and ready to take on any one in the Pacific,” Yangomina said.
The majority of the PNG U16s have been away from their families for most of the year and have practically played and trained with each other at the academy in Port Moresby and Yangomina was adamant this had been more then ample preparation for the Oceania.
Having defeated all Pacific Island opponents including Fiji, Nauru, New Zealand and the President’s side the junior Mosquitoes showed everyone they were heads and shoulders ahead of the rest.
But Yangomina said that the win that had the most meaning was the combined Pacific Island, including nine from PNG, which defeated the highly tauted Boomerangs, an ensemble Australia’s best junior talent.

Alas, the end of year wrap of sport (Dec 24) "What a year in sport" focuses on Rugby League, Soccer and Ryan Pini in the Delhi Games. This is in part a reminder that AFL PNG has a constant battle against RL and Soccer for the 'football' consciousness.