Words: Michael Flynn

Western Pride and Moreton Bay United will test themselves against Papua New Guinea Under 23 this week in a pair of exhibition matches.

The matches are part of Papua New Guinea’s preparations for July’s Pacific Games tournament which they will host in the capital Port Moresby.

The tournament doubles as the Oceania Football Confederation’s qualifying pathway for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Dodd said he was looking forward to seeing how his side perform against a team likely to deploy a different style of football to what they regularly encounter in PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland.

“These types of games are very important for the development of players at the Pride. Playing games against international teams allows our players an experience they wouldn’t normally get, and an understanding of what it takes to play at international level,” he said.

Jets coach Adam Piddick said he was looking to give game time to a number of Youth and fringe senior players in the match as part of their ongoing development.

“It will benefit me to have a look at these players in the senior team environment because possibly down the track or next year we will have to use them,” Piddick said.

Papua New Guinea are coached by former Wellington Phoenix manager Ricki Herbert, who Dodd represented in 36 matches in two seasons of the Hyundai A-League.

“As a young coach you reflect on all the coaches you have had in your career and I was very fortunate to have a coach of Ricki’s calibre,” Dodd said.

“It will be good to catch up with him after the game and have a discussion from a coaching point of view now,” he concluded.

Both Pride and Jets have confirmed free admission for their respective matches.

Fixture Details:

Western Pride Fc v Papua New Guinea Under 23
Briggs Road Complex, Ipswich
Wednesday, June 3
Kick-off - 7:30PM

Moreton Bay United FC v Papua New Guinea Under 23
Wolter Park, Moreton Bay
Thursday, June 4
Kick-off - 7:00PM