PORT MORESBY – Pacific Game organisers have hit back at criticism from the New Zealand under-23 football team that the Athletes’ Village in Port Moresby was not of an acceptable standard to live in.

The New Zealand ‘Oly Whites’ decided to relocate to a nearby hotel after coach Anthony Hudson branded the venue conditions in Papua New Guinea’s capital as “crazy”.

New Zealand were not officially invited to compete in football at the Pacific Games but are doing so as the tournament doubles as a qualifier for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro next year.

Games Council President Vidhya Lakhan told a press conference that his colleague Andrew Minogue, the PGC executive director, had spent three nights in the Village and insisted neither he nor any of the athletes residing there had any complaints.

“It is definitely not a five-star hotel but it is one of the best Games Villages’ we have had in the Pacific Games,” he said.

“I think that in itself speaks volumes of what Papua New Guinea is providing in terms of accommodation for our athletes.

“I’m not aware of what the expectations of the New Zealand football team are. I also know they’re complaining about the weather as well.

“When our teams go and play football in New Zealand in the winter, we cannot complain about the weather. They organise the tournament so we take part. They choose the times of the tournament so we don’t complain.

“So from our perspective I don’t know where they’re coming from.”

Apart from the criticism from New Zealand Lakhan said they have not received any complaints regarding the Athletes’ Village.

‘Oly Whites’ coach Hudsoncalled the Games Village accommodation “sub-standard” and criticised the “crammed” schedule at the Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea.

“It’s crazy,” Hudson said several days before the Games began. “I feel underwhelmed by just how poorly it has been set up with no consideration for football or for the players. I am shocked because this would not happen anywhere else.

Hudson also slammed the scheduling of the tournament, claiming it is “unheard of” to potentially have to play five games in 10 days.

“There has been a huge concern. It’s really, really poor. You have got five games in 10 days – that is unheard of. I have never experienced this anywhere in world football. It is what it is. We are going to go, and deal with it.”

But PGC’s Minogue claimed the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) were very supportive of the football programme, which they endorsed.

“From our perspective as the Games Council Organising Committee, we’re fully supportive of the schedule as it’s been drawn up and our member confederations, who are participating in it, are quite comfortable with those arrangements and have not complained.

“I think it’s also important to note, New Zealand in football are not actually invited to play in the Pacific Games tournament itself – so whether they want to stay in hotels or how they want to arrange their team, we are more than happy with whatever arrangements they feel are necessary for them to make.”

The New Zealand under-23 men’s football team has so far qualified for the semifinals of the Pacific Games.

New Zealand gained a hard-fought 1-0 win over hosts Papua New Guinea on Sunday night, booking their place in the last four of the Olympic qualifying event in Port Moresby.

New Zealand take on New Caledonia in their final pool match today.