AFLPNG set to start in July

AFL Papua New Guinea is targeting a July start for its competitions with the sport’s governing body observant of the state of emergency which is scheduled to be lifted on June 2.
AFLPNG senior community football manager Rex Leka told The National that the scheduled start would give time to associations to prepare while a tentative calendar was drawn after the state of emergency.
“Because of the lockdown, we might start in June or July,” he said.
“We might give associations a month to prepare and given the restrictions on social distancing, clubs can’t get together, players can’t train together so we’re awaiting advice from the authorities.
“The competitions should go ahead, depending on when to start and when they want to end.
“What we will do is give them a guideline on when they start and how they should run their competition to prepare selections for the International Cup.
“All the associations will have to run their own competitions again this year.
“Our calendar normally starts in March and ends in September.
“It’s a six-month competition in Port Moresby while other centres have four or less, depending on the number of teams they have.”
Meanwhile, Leka said all programmes had been put on hold and were subject to orders from the state of emergency controller.
“At the moment, all our staff have been laid off and will resume at the end of the month as per the information regarding the state of emergency restriction,” he said.