The new format of the Telikom National Soccer League will encourage more provincial teams to participate in the competition.
TNSL board hopes that at the conference level they will encourage more clubs to participate and then build the competition to the next level.
Board member and PNG Football Association general secretary Dimirit Mileng said there’s a lot of talent in the grassroots competition and in the PNGFA sanctioned competitions.
He said these young talents need to be exposed at the semi-professional level.
“By playing in the conference format, we are not downgrading the level of competition but generating a competitive environment.
“This conference format not only improves quality but develops quality through that process.
“While we don’t want to compromise the quality, we felt that there’s enough quality out there to expand the competition by another four teams this season,” he said.
Mileng said the competition is expected to be tough and the four top teams that will continue to the national league competition should give us the cream of football in the country.