National Soccer League

At the PNGFA Executive Committee meeting last Friday, April 28 in Port Moresby, the committee have approved the following:

Soccer fans were again treated to some entertaining football at all three designated venues without any disruptions.

Results from the PNG National Football Stadium in Port Moresby on Saturday, Gulf Komara came from behind in extra time to beat new comers Kimbe Eagles 3 after they held to a nil all draw at the end of regulation in extra time. In the 2^nd quarter final Hekari United proved too strong for Panguna Metals 6-0.

At the Lae Academy, Lae City beat Kuri 4-2, while in Goroka host Ape Aporo went down to Lae Natives 3-1 at the National Sports Institute.

As per the current new measures all public gatherings of more than 20 people including sporting activities are being restricted until the 30^th of October, 2021.  

PNG Football Association (PNGFA) Competition Director Rooje Suwae said while its business as usual in the office, all 14 teams in the NSL have suspended training in compliant with current new restrictions in place due to the alarming surge of COVID-19 in the country.

Meanwhile 13 teams that have sent in their expression of interest will then go through the NSL selection process to confirm the required 10 teams for the competition.

With just over a month to go before the revamped National Soccer League is set to kick off in July, there’s already overwhelming responses  from 13 teams who have expressed interest to take part in this year’s competition.

But the PNGFA blames Lae FC for failing to submit much needed background information to obtain the duo’s International Transfer Certificate that would have seen them taking part in the NSL as of last weekend following their arrival in the country.

According to Lae FC, for almost a month PNGFA sat on their submission requesting the ITC for the two Ecuadorian imports to play in the NSL ahead of their primary recruitment to beef up Lae FC’s OFC championship campaign next month in Vanuatu.

Sure it was not the regular side for Lae FC in the start but with a much higher calling as Lae FC shuffles to establish its ranks towards their fifth appearance at the OFC Champions Cup next month in Vanuatu.

Lae City FC head coach, Peter Gunemba, commended the fight put up by Morobe FC who went down 3-1 to Lae FC in round four of the National Soccer League in Lae. 

Gunemba had to bench regulars in Nigel Dabinyaba, Jacob Sabua, Emmanuel Airem and Ronald Warisan in the start of the opening half but not for too long after sensing the inevitable pressure by Morobe United.

The Papua New Guinea Football Association and National Soccer League have announced their kick-offs for the Premier League Competition commencing this Saturday. 

A press conference was held yesterday where PNGFA announced the beginning of the old format.

PNGFA President, John Kapi-Natto, said since 2018 and 2019, the Conference League was endorsed and replayed in the country however, the format was thrown out due to issues surrounding it.

The platinum sponsorship will support PNGFA’s premier competition, the National Soccer League, for two years.

Of the K3 million, K1 million will be for the 2019 season while K2 million will cover the next year.

This platinum sponsorship will give Kumul Petroleum Holdings Ltd the naming rights to the National Soccer League, which will now be called Kumul Petroleum National Soccer League. 

The club is franchised by Tusbab Secondary School through its school soccer team, Tusbab Blue Kumuls FC, to support youth football development.

After the school team merged with Blue Kumuls in 2010, the club has become a force to be reckoned with.

The merger saw Tusbab Blue Kumuls rise from the bottom of the league to one of the most successful clubs in the history of Madang Soccer Association – in most cases having all its division entering the finals.

Eight franchises are confirmed to participate for the Southern Conference, seven franchises for Northern, five franchise for New Guinea Islands and Highlands has six.

“PNGFA/NSL Management has acknowledge the twenty six franchises and it’s now for the NSL Board to give the final approval and endorsement of which teams will take part in the 2019 season,” said NSL manager Leslie Babaga.