FFPNG eyeing rural talent

By PISAI GUMAR
THE Football Federation of PNG (FFPNG) is aiming to give a new lease of life to rural soccer players to ensure National Premier League (NPL) clubs scout them for development.
The first FFPNG regional conferences club championships provide an avenue for raw talent in respective clubs within FFPNG’s member affiliates to showcase their potential.
FFPNG senior vice-president Roy Kamen said the challenge was scheduled for this weekend across all the regions.
The Lae Football Association (LFA) will host Mamose, which boasts 20 men’s and 10 women’s teams.
Similar games will be hosted in Kokopo for the New Guinea Islands, Goroka for Highlands and Port Moresby for the Southern region.
Kamen said FFPNG was keen to revitalise the idea of club championships that brought together champion players from associations in each region to compete in regional tournaments.
The winner and the runner-up from each regional conference then proceed to challenge in the national conference to dtermine the overall champion club in the country.
“This idea is the success of soccer in the country which brings out potential talents from rural areas, which unfortunately had died out almost 20 years ago and FFPNG is keen to revive it” Kamen said.
“It is purposely to motivate our rural folks to expose their skills for NPL clubs to scout and develop them to maintain the code as the skillful game of all.”
Kamen was impressed with host organising chairman John Peka and the committee members comprising James Kabi, Aaron Mugaliong, Gidas Bayung, Ignas Kavani, Jacob Mathew and Otti Atu.
“The committee members are appointed based on merit and I have no doubt in them to ensure an entertaining game which soccer followers in Mamose will enjoy this weekend” Kamen said.
Peka acknowledged FFPNG president John Kapi Natto for having confidence in LFA to host the regional championships, of which Morobe governor Ginson Saonu is an official guest for the matches to kick off on Thursday.