Kapuls Gear for World Cup Qualifier

The PNG Kapuls have finalized a 23-man squad to participate in the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifier. Their first match will be against New Caledonia on Thursday, October 10th, 2024, at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva, Fiji.

The 2026 tournament will be the sixteenth edition of the Oceania Football Confederation qualifiers and marks the first time for the OFC countries to have a direct qualification slot into the 2026 FIFA World Cup.  

Kicking off the first leg of the qualifier in the Pool A double-header on October 10th in Suva at HFC Bank Stadium will see PNG face New Caledonia, followed by hosts Fiji meeting the Solomon Islands.

Newly appointed PNG Kapuls coach, Felipe Vega-Arango has assembled a mixture of experienced and youthful side. The team will be led by seasoned campaigners in the likes of skipper Alwin Komolong, Raymond Gunemba, and Daniel Joe.

PNG Football Association (PNGFA) President, John Kapi Natto stated that he and his management had confidence in the current Kapuls team selected by coach Arango and his team of selectors, without interfering in the selection process. 

“In terms of the selection, we have left it to the head coach and his team. The secretariat office or myself as the President of PNGFA haven’t interfered with the selection process. We wanted the coach and his selectors to select the players independently. We don’t want to interfere in what they do,” Kapi Natto said.

“For me, I am very happy. We brought in a coach who works very hard, not coming in here (PNG) and taking it easy. He has put his time and effort into trying to bring our boys (Kapuls) to the level that we want to perform.”

PNGFA General Secretary Gordon Manub echoed similar sentiments shared by President Natto, encouraging the players to give their best and urging Papua New Guineans far and wide to throw their undivided support behind the Kapuls.  

Coach Arango thanked the PNGFA and pointed out the selection criteria that he had used in selecting the players. He noted that he had pushed the players to come out of their comfort zone, telling them to work hard, stay disciplined, and work together as a team.

“As mentioned by the president, the technical department provided me with the lists of the players and I made my own assessment to make the selection. Some of the players in the list didn’t make it, while others who were in the previous selection made it. I tried to be honest with my decision,” Arango said.

“I am happy with how the boys have been training. They have worked extremely hard in the last five weeks. I know they’ve been suffering but this is football, so their fitness level must be high up there to compete well against the top sides.

“I am happy with the support of the federation (PNGFA) in terms of providing the equipment for practice, recovery sessions and everything that we needed. I want everyone to support this team because we are in this together.”

Meanwhile, the Kapuls have left for Fiji today (Monday, October 7th). They will stay in Suva for two days and get acclimatized with the weather before meeting New Caledonia in the opener on Thursday, October 10th.