The Wadunah Family: working together for football in Madang

Football has some high-profile cases of families committed to football around the world; one such case comes from Papua New Guinea, particularly Madang. Behind the recent success of Tusbab Stallions, Madang’s representative in the PNG National Soccer League, there is a lot of work to create the perfect environment for the practice of good football. Among the people who support Stallions, there is a special family: the Wadunah’s.

The Wadunah’s are an important part of the success of the Tusbab Stallions. In the role of Sports Director, we have Conrad Wadunah, one of the most influential members of the Board of Directors, who has worked hard to develop the team since its inception in 2019. Off the pitch, we also have Rachel Wadunah, the head coach of the Tusbab Stallions, the woman responsible for coaching the players and accompanying them in this very good campaign that the Madang team is having in Papua New Guinea this season. Rachel is one of the few women in the world to coach a men’s team competing at national level.

Conrad and Rachel also have two very talented sons: Ricky Wadunah and Jason Wadunah. Ricky, a 19-year-old midfielder, is considered one of the most promising players in Papua New Guinea at the moment. His brother Jason, who also plays in midfield, is only 17-years old. Both players have already represented their country at international youth level.

Ricky and Jason have been playing for the Tusbab Stallions since 2019 in their first appearance in the PNG National Soccer League. Both are starters in the team, which is coached by their mother and directed by their father.

Ricky and Jason are being crucial for Stallions in the current season in Papua New Guinea alongside players such as Stahl Gubag, the top goalscorer of the season so far. The young brothers are impressing the Papua New Guinean community with their performances – helping the Madang based-side to enjoy a superb season so far.

A family united by football works hard to promote the development of the game in their country and province. Rachel, Conrad, Jason and Ricky – along with all the board members, staff and players of the Tusbab Stallions – certainly make Madang proud of their efforts and enjoy very good performances at the Lawaiden Oval.

After the forced break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Stallions are already back in training and expect to continue their adventure in good form when they resume their campaign in the PNG National Soccer League in August – when the national league is set to restart.