PNG Football Association

PNGFA Secretary General, Pius Letenge confirmed the appointment of both coaches as PNGFA embarks on its preparation for its World Cup campaign starting next year. Both coaches are expected in the country anytime soon once their relevant travel documents are in order.

Gusmao’s major task is as PNG Kapul Head Coach for the 2022 World Cup OFC Qualifiers in Doha, Qatar next March 2022. He takes over from former coach, Fleming Serritslev who is now in-charge of Fiji men’s soccer team.

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.

President John Kapi Natto said he supported the FIFA/OFC sanctioned course to help educate the referees and so it this help them improve performance of refereeing standard in the country.

The course is targeted at referees who are doing well in their respective member association’s competition to test their skills and knowledge at the OFC courses.

PNGFA General Secretary Pius Letenge expressed the same sentiment stating PNGFA under the leadership of Kapi Natto has been conducting basic MA Referee course throughout the country and now the FIFA/OFC referee course.

Alotau is the second member association to join football family after Vanimo in the border province of Sandaun.

Milne Bay Province soccer body inclusion was part of the drive undertaken by PNG Football Association President, John Kapi Natto to bring back all former members to the football fold.
PNGFA vice president (Southern region), Morea Vavine who witnessed the election of the office bearers recently applauded the election process, which took place to name new president.

Acting PNGFA competition director, Roojse Suwae confirmed the launching of the new-look conference National Soccer League.

The conference will be played in two conferences in both Northern and Southern regions. Fourteen teams have confirmed participation with seven teams in the Northern Conference and seven teams in Southern Conference.

Both the men and the women’s team had two training camps last month to trim down the squad to 30 players.

After the first camps last month, 30 men and 30 women were selected to undergo the second training camp.

The final 23 players with seven non-travelling reserves will be announced next month before the team leaves for Samoa for the July games.

In a press conference, PNGFA President, John Kapi Natto, said the sport has steadily reached new heights, where the climax was almost reached by the men’s team during the 2016 OFC Nations Cup.

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. 

Kapi Natto said this in response to a statement by John Gonjuan in a daily paper saying the FFPNG does not have running competitions in towns they claim to run.

Gonjuan also said the call for FFPNG Associations to return to PNGFA was still there and they have also urged FFPNG to come and work with the secretariat to iron out compliance issues with affiliates that have sided with FFPNG since its establishment.

Kapi Natto asked in his statement whether Gonjuan had visited areas in which FFPNG had been running competitions.

The Papua New Guinea Football Association Acting President John Wesley Gonjuan is calling onto Bougainville, Hekari, Koupa, LFA, Manus, Mendi and Wabag Soccer Association who were suspended in 2016 to come forward and communicate with the PNGFA Secretariat to rectify their issues and comply with the PNG Football Association Statutes requirements.

Gonjuan said, the finding of the Electoral Committee investigation which led to recommendation for suspensions needed to be addressed to develop a way forward for the uplifting and re-instalment of the member association’s status.

This was confirmed by the senior PNGFA vice president, John W Gonjuan.

Gonjuan offered his gratitude to Chung for developing a number of projects like the National Soccer League, Education Centre and under 19 youth development project under the Besta sponsorship, among others.

“PNGFA is the legitimate member association of OFC and FIFA therefore continues to function as the national governing body of football in Papua New Guinea,” he said in a statement.