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Lae resisting plans to relocate PNGFA
HQ
THE plan to move the PNG Football Association headquarters from
Lae to Port Moresby has been discussed extensively within the
PNGFA executive and with Oceania Football Confederation.
The move was part of the restructure which the PNGFA would want to
take due to the recent visit of FIFA president Joseph Blatter, the
community workshop held last year, and other logistics reasons
which have influenced the decision.
PNGFA president David Chung said a recent e-mail to stakeholders
that moving to Port Moresby did not mean that PNGFA was neglecting
the Lae academy.
He said the academy would in fact have more development staff to
cater for the other two regional schools established in Kimbe and
Wabag, and also in Port Moresby.
Chung said the Port Moresby office was concentrating more on
marketing, public relations and decision-making on policy.
He said the academy at 11-Mile would focus on training and
operation. It would cost PNGFA little money as PNG Sports
Commission had allocated a space for PNGFA.
At the same time, PNGFA would work closely with PNGSC on the
grassroot programmes.
Meanwhile, senior vice-president Seth Daniels has expressed
disappointment over the move to Port Moresby, saying that it was
illegal and unconstitutional.
Daniels claimed that he was not consulted, and that the move may
be in contravention of Clause 12 (0) constitution which requires
75% majority vote to move the headquarters.
“The president had no regard for PNGFA constitution. He has
violated all the provisions of the constitution which is the
foundation of soccer in PNG. It is a move undertaken by Chung to
destabilise soccer in PNG,” Daniels said.
“The power to make any decision on PNGFA rests with the congress
as it is the supreme body of soccer within PNG and no man could
make decisions alone without getting the absolute majority support
on any decision to move the head office over to Port Moresby,” he
said.
“I’m the senior vice-president of PNGFA and in the event that the
president is out of the country I should immediately take over the
role as the acting president until he returns and I should be
consulted first on any issues regarding soccer in PNG”.
Daniels said Chung is the president of PNGFA which is a different
body from Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) and he could not
mix the two organisations under the same umbrella.
“Keep PNGFA separate from OFC. We have had enough of OFCís
interference in PNGFA internal matters. PNGFA should be more
concerned about promoting the code of soccer within PNG.”
PNGFA general secretary Dimrit Mileng declined to comment when
contacted yesterday.
ìIt is an executive decision and I cannot comment until the
president, who is out of the country, returns in March to respond
your questions,î Mileng said.
 
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