Soccer unites

By ERIC PIET
THE PNG Football Association (PNGFA) has now become one body thanks to John Kapi Nato and John Wesley Gonjuan, two faction leaders, who laid aside their differences in Saturday’s PNGFA congress presidential election in Port.
Kapi Nato was elected president of PNGFA by the 18 member associations (MA) brings a close to 18 months of division.
Kapi Nato said Fifa had led the unification process by having Gonjuan and him sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) in order for the sport to progress as the division had seen those associations aligned with the Football of Federation of PNG unable to take part in the PNGFA programme over that period.
“This coming together for one PNGFA was directed by Fifa. The PNGFA needed to become one football family,” Kapi Nato said.
“The MOA that was signed by vice-president Guanjo, myself and the Fifa representative on Sept 28 signified the transition that both factions must now come together, put all differences aside and take football to the people, and this process was executed on Saturday at Crown Plaza, where I was elected as president.
“I thank vice-president John Wesley Gonjuan and PNGFA general-secretary Dimirit Mileng for holding the office for the last 18months up until Saturday’s presidential election and declaration.
“I also want to thank the presidents of all 18 MAs and especially the ones that voted for me as president of PNGFA.
“From now on we will work together to unite football in our country,” Kapi Nato said.
Kapi Nato said as president elect, he would also do his best to ensure that the assistances of Fifa, Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), and corporate partners would be delivered to the PNGFA, our MAs, and the people of this country.
“I take this time to announce to all our people in the country, stakeholders, partners such as Office of Vice-Minister for Sports Wesley Raminai, Fifa, OFC and our business sponsors and playing young people in PNG that as of Saturday, football in PNG as come together as one body, as such I invite all our people, partners and friends to come and enjoy our global game,” Kapi Nato said.
Commenting on his role as the FFPNG president, Nato said that as per the instruction from the Fifa, the body had been dissolved.
Nato said he would return Hekari FC to the National Soccer League (NSL) to renew its rivalry with Toti City FC.
He said that the NSL season was expected to start in December when he finalised the competition and sponsorship with the PNGFA administration.