23 Sep 2022

Women's tournament could be added to MSG football Cup

10:32 am on 23 September 2022
PNG Sports Foundation Executive Director Albert Veratau

Photo: Facebook

Women's football could be included in the next MSG Prime Minister's Football Cup.

The tournament, which was originally called the Melanesian Cup, hasn't taken place for 22 years due to a lack of funding, but it's been resurrected by the government of Vanuatu and FIFA under its new name.It is a FIFA tier-one tournament

The men's tournament is currently taking place in Vanuatu.

PNG Sports Foundation Executive Director Albert Veratau (above) said PNG is pushing for women's football in the next edition of the MSG Cup.

Veratau said sports in general has no boundary and he would love to see other sports being part of the MSG program.

He said he wants the Melanesian countries to promote gender balance and promote women to be part of the football tournament.

The quarter-finals of the 2022 Cup take place on Saturday in Port Vila.

Solomon Islands will play Fiji and Papua New Guinea will play Vanuatu in the semi-finals on Saturday, local time.

FBC reports that Fiji captain Roy Krishna has joined the national side from his club in India, and will lead the side in the semi-final.

National team manager Anushil Kumar told the Fiji Times Krishna will be invaluable and comes after helping Bengaluru beat Mumbai City in the final of India's top knockout tournament.

"It will be good to have Roy join us. Coming off a winning performance from the Durand Cup, Roy will just add to the good vibes already in the team," Kumar said.

"Roy brings with him loads of experience. He will be looked up to by many players and I'm pretty sure he will add more firepower in our attack."

The final takes place on September 30.