TFPNG Head Trainer eyes Asia Pacific Opens Touch Cup

The recently appointed Head Trainer of Touch Federation of Papua New Guinea (TFPNG), Eugene Eka, is ready to lead PNG in the upcoming Asia Pacific Opens Touch Cup (APOTC). 

Eka, who is one of PNG Touch football's most capped players, will oversee preparations for the upcoming APOTC, slated for April 23-26, 2026, at Glen Willow Regional Sports Complex in Mudgee, New South Wales, Australia.

Over 20 teams from across ten nations are expected to participate in the 2026 Asia Pacific Opens Touch Cup, featuring the Men's, Women's, and Mixed Open Divisions. 

TFPNG has announced both men's and women's teams, including the officials, but the squads haven’t started training yet. The players will head to the camp next month and begin preparations. 

The PNG contingent will feature 42 players across the men's, women's, and mixed open divisions, including the coaching staff and team management. 

The new head trainer mentioned that though it would be a challenge to step into the new role, he is happy to train the national squad.

“I feel good. It's a challenge, but I have been training my club, Tribes, and my association CTPM, and also the national men's team, before we departed for the World Cup in England, so I feel challenged and good,” Eka said.

Eka added that since the Touch Federation of Papua New Guinea made a deliberate decision to select a development team for this tournament, he would share his experience and guide the young players through modern, fast-paced play. 

“We’ll bring the players up to speed with the new game, the systems, the processes, and policies in attack and defense, plus getting the fundamentals of the game right because this is a development team,” he explained. 

Despite missing out on selection for this tournament, Eka and other elite players remain available for future national duties, including potential selection for the 2028 Touch World Cup in New Zealand.

Additionally, the event was originally planned for Redcliffe. However, it was relocated to Mudgee because of its excellent facilities and community support for major events.

Eugene Eka has represented PNG since 2012, having participated in 3 Pacific Games and 3 World Cups, as well as being the captain of the national men’s team.