While many Papua New Guineans still talk about the game between PNG PMs XIII and the Australian PMs XIII, few have raised concerns on social media about Football (soccer) and Rugby League in PNG.
A Papua New Guinea’s professional footballer currently playing in New Zealand, Maurie Wasi shared his thoughts about the codes when asked to compare Football with Rugby League in the country.
"I don’t think it is right to compare Football with Rugby League and we shouldn’t as both codes have their own challenges,” Mauri said.
Adding that, every sport has its challenges but can feed off each other to better themselves and their players’ development and welfare.
He further elaborated that, there are a lot of professional PNG Rugby League players and hardly any professional football (soccer) players.
“In my opinion, if some of the football players in Papua New Guinea were born anywhere else in the world, they would be professional footballers,” he stated.
“We have the ability and I think we have some technically gifted players, however, not many scouts, professional clubs and overseas coaches think of coming to PNG to look at our top players.”
“Those of us, who are lucky and privileged enough to come out of PNG, try to lift the profile of our players but unless they come and see our players, I’m worried that this will never change,” he added.
“I hope that this year’s success in PNG football with many of the Kapuls players recruited into the Solomon Islands League and Raymond Gunemba and Nigel Dabinyaba to the overseas Leagues will have significant outcomes to help that area of the game, so hopefully more local players have the opportunity to go overseas,” he stressed.
“Overall, I’m positive and optimistic on our future ahead when football will gain recognition and prominence in Papua New Guineas world of sports while Rugby will too.”