by Ronald Toito’ona
The opening match of the 2024 Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Cup in Honiara yesterday at the Lawson Tama Stadium saw the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Kapuls claim a narrow 1-0 victory over the Solomon Islands Development team.
A decisive penalty by PNG captain Alwin Komolong in the 17th minute sealed the win, in a tightly contested match that showed heart and determination from both teams.
Despite holding possession for much of the match, the Solomon Islands Development team struggled with execution in the final third.
“We Lacked the Final Passes” — Solomon Islands development side’s team captain, Marlon Tahioa Reflects on the Defeat.
Tahioa candidly shared his thoughts on the performance:
“First of all, I’d like to thank God for the strength and talent He has given us. The game today, I must say that we played well, we managed to keep the ball possession, but we lacked the final passes,” said Tahioa.
Acknowledging the gap in experience and mental stamina between the youthful development side and the senior national team, he added:
“As a former senior player, comparing the young boys with the national team is very different. There are a lot of differences. These young boys have the energy to run everywhere but they lack mental fitness, to keep the spirit of sportsmanship, and also to keep the intensity until the final whistle.”
Looking ahead to their next game, Tahioa expressed the team’s resolve:
“Our next game is against our national team, and of course, it will be a very tough game… For us, we will try our best to match them or compete against them to the level that they are at the moment.”
Komolong Dedicates Win to Coach David Muta
For the PNG Kapuls, the victory was not only a strong start to the tournament but also a tribute to their interim head coach, David Muta. With regular head coach Felipe Venga Arango absent due to technical issues, Muta stepped up to lead the team.
Captain Alwin Komolong praised his teammates and dedicated the win to Muta:
“It’s unfortunate that our head coach did not come… But it’s good that we have David, who has been with Felipe for a while. David is an experienced player and it’s his first time coaching today as the head coach. We’re so happy to also give him his first victory.”
Komolong highlighted the challenging conditions but expressed satisfaction with the team’s discipline:
“We’re happy with the result. It’s good to start off the tournament with a win, especially in this heat — as you might have seen, both teams struggled to cope with the heat. The Solomon Islands Development side gave us a good fight, but we came in with a mindset not to concede any goals, and we checked off that first. The bonus is the victory.”
New Faces and Looking Forward
The Kapuls fielded a blend of experience and fresh talent, with three players making their international debuts. Komolong praised the new additions and expressed optimism:
“It’s a good mixture of experienced and new players, and we’re just looking forward to the future and seeing what these good players can bring to the team.”
As the Kapuls prepare for their next match against Fiji, Komolong called on PNG fans for continued support:
“Thank you to all PNG fans who have come out to cheer our boys today. Please, do come out in numbers again to support us in our next game.”
Next Steps
The Solomon Islands Development team will face their national side in a much-anticipated clash, while PNG sets sights on a tough encounter with Fiji. Both matches promise excitement as the 2024 MSG Cup heats up in Honiara.
