By KEVIN PAMBA
THE new National Soccer League franchise team for Madang will be launched next Thursday in Madang.
Team manager, Chris Papiali announced yesterday that the new franchise team sponsored by the Lae-based International Food Corporation (IFC) will be called “Madang Besta”.
Papiali said NSL executives are among invited guests to the launch of Madang Besta.
He also announced that Madang Besta has recruited young PNG international striker, Neil Hans, who played for NSL team last season.
He said Hans is among a pool of experienced and exciting new talent Madang Besta is raring to unleash on opponents come the NSL season kick-off time next month.
Hans father Bonny Hans Pongo who has representative coaching experience has been appointed the assistant coach of Madang Besta.
Papiali said the team is a balanced one with skills and talent with some of the players having representative experiences at different levels including NSL.
He said other notable players include Watson Samai, a striker who will assist Hans and colleague, Joel Keimelo and ex-Blue Kumuls recruit out of Lae, Michael Yanguam.
He said one other player, Robin Malwak, is from a rural competition on Karkar Island and the team is pleased to have him on board.
“Robin is the first export out of Karkar Island to NSL and he is a very good mid-fielder from my observation of his local games,” said Papiali.
“We have a very good team that is expected to give the Madang supporters their moneyís worth,” said the Divine Word University lecturer in Information Systems.
Papiali also thanked and praised IFC through its canned fish brand Besta for coming to the rescue of Madang and franchising a team.