10 NSL sides confirmed

By JOSEPH REMA
Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) president John Kapi Natto says 10 Kumul Petroleum National Soccer League (NSL) teams will compete this season which kicks off on Saturday.
He said yesterday that the teams would play under the old premier league system after the decision by PNGFA and the NSL management to repeal the last format.
NSL chairman Benny Popoitai said the teams were from Port Moresby, Lae, Southern Highlands and Madang.
“The Port Moresby-based teams are, Star Mountain, Mineral Resources Development Company Hekari United, Vitias United, Petroleum Resources Kutubu Gulf Komara and Bougainville,” Popoitai said.
”The Lae-based teams are Morobe Wawens, Lae City and Morobe United.”
Madang’s Tusbab Stallions will play their home matches at Laiwaden Oval and Kutubu will have theirs at Goroka’s National Sports Institute.
Unlike last season, the New Guinea Islands will have no team in the country’s premier football competition.
Kapi Natto said the 10 teams had been training for the last three to four months.
He said they were eager begin the season, which was initially scheduled for kickoff last Saturday, but was deferred.
“However, through an emergency meeting, the board has agreed to kickoff,” Kapi Natto said.
“We must comply with Fifa to run the competition and have our winners and runners-up for the next (Oceania Football Confederation)Champions League.
“We must focus on taking our competition forward.” Meanwhile, the country’s premier women’s football competition kicks off next week.
PNGFA has agreed to host its matches in Port Moresby and Lae.