Big five back NSL

THE country’s top flight semi-professional football competition, the National Soccer League (NSL), for the first time has attracted several high profile corporate partners in its short history.
NSL board chairman John Kapi Natto on Saturday introduced major sponsor, Telikom PNG and four other backers – Air Niugini, National Gaming Control Board (NGCB), Coca-Cola Amatil (PNG) and sporting apparel manufacturer Kooga – during the opening O-League Challenge soccer match between his team Hekari United FC, and Amical FC of Vanuatu.
The Vanuatu champions caused a mild upset winning the match 2-1 to get their O-League campaign  challenge of to the best of starts.
The leading communication company with the slogan “Always There”, Telikom PNG has shown commitment for another year while the referees and linesmen will fly the flag of Air Niugini throughout the NSL season.
Kapi Natto welcomed Air Niugini marketing manager  Dominic Kaumu, who vowed to provide the necessary support to ensure the carrier’s flag was flown in all NSL venues.  
Kapi Natto, who was instrumental in setting up the league, thanked Air Niugini for jumping on the sponsorship wagon – something he said was overdue in supporting the truly national sport in the country.
He also welcomed another major contributor to sports in the country, the NGCB and its chief executive officer, Simon Sanagke, for coming on board to support the football.
The other major backer is global beverage giant and the country’s  number one soft drink manufacturer, Coca-Cola, was also welcomed on board.
They will provide drinks and other refreshment products for NSL teams during the duration of the season.
Kapi Natto said the luring of corporate backers displayed their confidence in the PNG Football Association’s administration of semi-professional football in the country.
He thanked Kooga for providing the uniforms for the NSL teams for this season.
He added that this was the first time the NSL has attracted high number of major corporate sponsors and had put soccer firmly as a major code in the country.