Chung unveils plan
The National, Tuesday October 22nd, 2013
By JOHN PANGKATANA
THE Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) wants to host the 2020 Federation International Football Association (FIFA) Congress.
Quite a huge call, but yes, a dream that PNGFA and Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) president David Chung firmly believes is achievable.
The former Simbu businessman, who rose to prominence as a shrewd administrator to command respect in the Oceania region, has already made his presence known at the FIFA level by virtue of his automatic FIFA vice-president’s title.
Nothing is impossible. Chung is testimony to that.
There has been no other PNG sports administrator that has achieved his stripes. Having established himself already among the corridors of power in world soccer, he now wants to add the icing on the cake by bringing the 209 members of FIFA to Port Moresby.
“This is my dream to give back to the people of Papua New Guinea,” he added.
During a press conference in Port Moresby last Friday, Chung spelt out his ambitious plan to the local media that the PNGFA is basically riding on the 2018 (Asia Pacific Economic Committee) APEC meeting window in Port Moresby to gauge the National Government’s view for 2020.
Chung said that with the likelihood that the 2019 FIFA Congress may return to Zurich he indicated that 2020 was available to bid for.
“This dream needs the National Government’s blessing. The economic windfall for the business and tourism community will be huge as some of the richest people in the world, including princes and barons, are key stakeholders in FIFA,” Chung said.
“If I can convince others and have the support of people like West New Britain Governor Sasindran Muthuvel who can push soccer’s cause at the political level then this dreamcan be achieved,” Chung explained.
He said if cabinet could endorse the concept in principle he was confident of lobbying the support needed among the FIFA executives to get a green light.
Chung said part of the stringent criteria that needed to be met was whether Port Moresby was capable of hosting a world class event of this nature with the hotels and service providers to host up to 1,000 visitors.
“We are selling PNG to the rest of the world. In turn the 209 delegates are also coming with potential investors and the opportunities are there in abundance to return our visitors as investors,” he added.