PNG Coach hails FIFA Series as “brilliant initiative”

National teams from the Oceania Football Confederation have embraced the opportunity to compete against strong teams from around the globe in the FIFA Series over the past 10 days.

Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and New Zealand have all been competing in the FIFA Series at tournaments in Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia and Egypt respectively and have all hailed the initiative to give nations on the far reaches of the world more chances to test and develop themselves.

Papua New Guinea Head Coach Warren Moon was full of praise of FIFA and the organising countries for this new initiative and hoped the pilot series would see many repeats.

 “I think it’s a brilliant initiative from FIFA. It obviously wouldn’t have happened if FIFA didn’t roll something like this out,” Moon said.

“I know it’s a pilot, it’s the first time it’s happened, but I can only see this being a positive, especially for countries like PNG.

“To get this kind of opportunity to come to a place like Sri Lanka, we’ve been treated really well, the organisation’s been first class from FIFA, so I think it really gives the team something to look forward to.”

The PNG Kapuls lost their second match in the series 0-4 against the strong African opposition after earning a credible 0-0 draw with hosts Sri Lanka in the first match.

The FIFA Series sees world football’s governing body supports its member associations in organising international friendly matches comprising four national teams from different confederations in a single host country.

The initiative provides FIFA Member Associations with a more regular opportunity to face national teams from other continents, which will serve to unlock technical development opportunities previously unavailable to many of them.

The pilot project edition of the FIFA Series featured national teams from all six confederations, and future instalments are planned during every March international match window of even years.