Matches shifted to capital

Sports

By ISAAC LIRI
THE National Soccer League board has decided to move two postponed matches on Saturday from Lae to Port Moresby.
The first match at midday sees Buang taking on Yamaros while the main game has minor premiers Lae City Dwellers facing second-placed PS United in a top-of-the-table clash.
NSL competition manager Simon Koima said the board had opted to have the games at the Bisini soccer grounds because of the wet weather in Lae which had affected the pitch at the PNG Football Association Academy.
“The weather in Lae has affected the state of the pitch at the PNGFA Academy making it unsuitable for NSL fixtures so the board has decided to move the games to Port Moresby where the conditions are drier,” Koima said.
The NSL semifinals, however, will take place the following weekend at a venue yet to be decided by the board.
“Lae is the most suitable venue to have the semifinals as planned because of its central location and because we want to give something back to the people of Morobe,” Koima said.
“But due to the wet weather in Lae, a decision on where the semifinals will be staged is still pending.
“Our first choice venue for the  finals is Lae because of its location but the board is mindful of the weather and if the situation doesn’t allow for it then we’ll have them in Port Moresby.”
The finals format will also be confirmed by the board after this weekend.
Koima said the original plan was to have first play fourth and second play third with the losers knocked out and the winners advancing to the final but the final decision on that was yet to come from the board.
Washed out fixtures: (Bisini Soccer ground) 1230 Buang v Yamaros, 1500 Lae City v PS United.