Ramona “Monty” Padio didn’t listen to her mother. Lucky for the Papua New Guinea women’s soccer team. “My mother was afraid that I would play soccer. She told me to stay at school,” the midfielder told DW. “But my grandparents encouraged me to play football.” Now Padio and the women’s team are just 180 minutes away from historic success – their first World Cup appearance.
On February 19, Papua New Guinea meets Panama in a playoff tournament hosted by New Zealand. If the reigning Oceania champions from Papua New Guinea manage to defeat the Central Americans, either Paraguay or Taiwan awaits in the final. The winners of this final qualify for World Cup Group F, which includes France, Brazil and Jamaica. “It will be a great opportunity to play against Brazil,” said Padio, 24. “Right now my family and friends are excited and proud that I made it to the playoffs. And possibly even a World Cup not far from Papua.”
prove men wrong
The World Cup really couldn’t be much closer. Papua New Guinea, a country of around ten million people, is just 150 kilometers from the northern tip of Australia. Along with New Zealand, Australia is hosting the Women’s World Cup this summer. Papua New Guinea has traditionally been a rugby-crazy, male-dominated society. Girls and young women therefore have a harder time than elsewhere when it comes to realizing their sporting dreams.
Midfielder Ramona Padio (left) during the international match against the Philippines
“Societal expectations of women in Papua New Guinea are often to do household chores and look after children and elderly family members,” Kath Hempenstall, head coach of the country’s women’s cricket team, told DW. “All female athletes help break down barriers by not necessarily conforming to social and gender norms and instead pursuing their sporting dreams.”
Journalist Patricia Keamo, covering the women’s team for The National newspaper, agrees. “Traditionally, we come from a patriarchal society. It’s a challenge for women, not just in football but in all areas of life.” Another challenge was the fact that the country’s top women’s league is only semi-professional. It is all the more impressive that the women’s team won the Oceania title last July. In the final she defeated the team from Fiji 2-1.
“In the past, the attention of the national football association was mostly for the men. But now the women are succeeding. And that’s an eye-opener for them,” says Keamo. “These women have proved many people and many men wrong.”
Experienced new coach at the top
Spencer Prior aims to help the team continue to exceed expectations. The former Manchester City and Leicester City player has a wealth of experience coaching women’s football. Before that, he already looked after the teams from Thailand and Australia. He was appointed head coach of Papua New Guinea last November and sees the biggest challenge as the players not being used to playing opponents from outside their region.
Signed in November 2022: Papua New Guinea national team coach Spencer Prior
“We played in the Philippines in December and it was one of the first times we’ve faced a non-Oceanic team in years,” Prior told DW. The two games were lost, one with 1:5, the other with 0:9.
“I don’t care about the results,” says Prior. “It was about facing other resistances. Before that they always played against Fiji, Samoa and Tonga and they are very physical teams with a lot of tackles and one-on-ones .” His players are used to this tough pace, now it’s about making them calmer: “We had to teach them to defend a bit, to attack and not to be sent off,” he adds.
Upcoming playoff opponents Panama come from a confederation with much stronger sides, including reigning world champions USA. “They played against strong teams in their region and we have to work hard,” explains Prior. He is somewhat optimistic that his team is much fitter and more united after the training camps in Sydney and Wellington. “We’ll definitely be underdogs. But we have to play without fear. Otherwise it will paralyze us physically and mentally. We have to keep our structure and discipline. If we can do that, we have a small chance.”
A game changer for all women’s sports?
Prior is convinced that a World Cup participation would be a turning point for the players. “Rugby is the most popular sport and even our girls love rugby. But attending a World Cup will certainly generate a lot more interest in all areas,” he says. “More revenue will flow into women’s football and that means more investment and enthusiasm. That has to be the next step.”
“Monty” Padio feels the same way. “Our league isn’t as professional as some other countries, but we can do it… we can beat them,” she says. “And if we get to the World Cup it would be good for our country. There would be more interest in women’s football – and some money would be generated. It would be an honor for all of us.”
Adapted from the English by Jens Krepela