| Sports |
Highlanders ready to impact in NSL
comp
By WENDY KATUSELE
WELGRIS Highlander
Football Club yesterday made its intentions known for a much
improved season when the semi-professional national soccer
league competition kicks off in October.
And yesterday it became the first club to pay its affiliation
fee during a brief ceremony in Port Moresby with franchise owner
Welgris Fuel Distributors general manager David Sarowa handing
over a cheque of K100,000 to National soccer league chairman
John Kapi Natto.
The club represents the Highlands region where rugby league has
been a dominant sport.
In line with the Oceania Football Confederation’s calendar, the
NSL season will kick off on October 1 with the finals next
March.
Sarowa said while the sport is not popular in the region, things
are set to change this season for the team.
“We dropped out last year but we will put up a strong challenge
this year,” Sarowa said.
He also challenged other local companies to come out and support
clubs for the promotion of the code itself.
Player/coach Pius Letenge also backed the franchise owner with
promises of a much improved season this year but appeal to
supporters to rear the team’s mission come the start of the semi
professional competition.
He said the club has began it recruitment drive with players
from Lae approached but said they were also looking at scouting
in the other provinces.
An excited NSL chairman Natto said this year is set for another
good showing with two more franchise to join the competition.
The deadline for affiliation is June 30 and which two franchise
come up with their affiliation then they would added to the
competition but already there is indication that a team from
Port Moresby and two from Lae want to join the competition.
Natto also announced that negotiations are being underway for
the National Sports Institute to be the home ground for the
club.
The earlier announcement by Natto was well taken by Letenge who
said the much traveling last year due to no proper soccer turf
in Mt Hagen was also a telling factor in their performance last
year and the arrangement will surely bolster their mission.
“It is good to see Welgris Fuel Distributors coming good again
for the second year to support a team from the Highlands,” Natto
said.
 
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