AFLPNG defers schools competitions

AUSTRALIAN Football League Papua New Guinea (AFLPNG) has deferred its schools competitions with organisers re-scheduling matches to November, according to an official.
AFLPNG senior community football manager Rex Leka told The National that the rescheduled matches would be reviewed following the nationwide ban on public gatherings of more than 20 persons.
He said the surge in the Coronavirus (Covid-19) Delta variant cases in the country had forced the deferral of competitions in most centres around the country.
“At this point, all our schools competitions are on hold and we will await directives from the National Control Centre,” Leka said.
“If we get approval, it will have to be a discussion between us and the participating schools.
“It will also depend on the academic calendar to give time to students who will be sitting for exams this month, so we will be talking more with schools on how we can finish our competitions.”
Meanwhile, Niu Kick official Freda Keene said the Port Moresby competition had three weeks remaining with most centres completing theirs prior to this month.
“For Port Moresby, we had three weeks of matches left before the ban came into effect, so we’re looking to resume matches in November, if possible,” she said.
“We have our Covid-19 protocols in place, so they will be enforced if we resume matches.
“The deferral will also apply to AFL clinics in all centres.”