Competition to double up

NORTHERN teams in the Women National Soccer League will play two matches each on the weekends of Dec 19 (Saturday) and Jan 9 to ensure that the conference finishes at around the same time as that of the Southern sides.
Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) competitions director Paul Isorua, who is also in-charge of the league, said rounds three and four would be played on Saturday and Sunday at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium and PNGFA Academy respectively.
He said since the league had eight teams in the Northern Conference with 14 match days and six sides in the Southern Conference with 10 match days, PNGFA had scheduled match dates to enable both conferences to complete all their matches around the same time.
Isorua said rounds five and six of the Northern Conference would be play on Jan 9 and 10.
Both conferences will go into a recess after this weekend before Northern and Southern teams resume on Jan 9 and 16 respectively.
“Both double-round weekends are scheduled for before and after the festive season to give ample recovery time for players and officials,” PNGFA said in a statement yesterday.
“The double-round weekends will now mean that the Southern Conference will complete all its matches on Feb 27 followed by the Northern Conference on March 6 before the top-two teams from both conferences proceed to the finals.”
Isorua thanked all Northern Conference teams for their understanding, cooperation and passion in helping the league finish on time.
Fixtures: Sat, Dec 19 — NCD v Port Moresby Academy, Port Moresby City v Hekari United, Genesis v Amoana, Morobe Tulip v Poro, Tusbab Laidamon v Sepik, Pacific Gardens v Markham Raings, Bara v Rainy Lae; Sun, Dec 20 – Morobe Tulip v Bara, Tusbab Laidamon v Markham Raings, Sepik v Rainy Lae, Poro v Pacific Gardens.