Funding queried

Lae Football Association president Roy Kamen has called for a full audit of Fifa’s “Go Forward” funds released to the Papua New Guinea Football Association.
Kamen said the affiliated associations had not received any funding for infrastructure development or to develop pathway for youths nor seen any tangible benefit from the money given to the national federation by the world body.
PNGFA received about K37 million between 2016-2022, according to a Fifa report published by The National earlier this month.
The funding covered administration and governance, national teams, infrastructure, equipment, women’s football, capacity development and competitions.
“The recent bad results of PNG football in international tournaments shows that something is wrong. In relation to the funding issues, I am calling for the audit of funds,” Kamen said.
“I call on president John Kapi Nato to convene an urgent meeting of PNGFA member association presidents and clarify many questions on funding, national team preparations, development pathway, facilities development and allegations of conflict of interest and management of the PNGFA.
“I have been president of Lae Football for some years now and I must say we are going through one of the worst experiences of football in the country.
“Therefore, I urge all other presidents to work collaboratively so that we can find a way to resolve these issues and bring back football.
“Something is not right and therefore I am asking for an audit and total transparency and accountability; and I also believe that other associations around the world will also want to know the use of funds in their country.”
Kamen said the only support members received was a K20,000 funding during the Covid-19 period between 2020 to 2021.
“I am speaking on behalf of the majority of member associations who have been trying to manage the association without any support for years,” he said.
“We want transparency and we want PNGFA to inform us if the funds had been received by PNGFA and how it was used or if it was not released.”
PNGFA in response to questions from The National, responded to Kamen’s statement saying.
“PNGFA financial statements for the year ending Dec 31, 2022 were accepted and approved at the 19th PNGFA Congress (18 member associations of PNGFA) held on Dec 23, 2023. These financial statements were audited by external auditors,” it said.
“PNGFA also compiled and agreed to the requirements of the Fifa Central Audit for the period ended Dec 31, 2022. Annually our books are audited by Fifa approved external auditors for the use of Fifa funds by PNGFA.”
PNGFA said Fifa provided access up to K30.7 million over the funding cycle upon PNGFA meeting the required regulation of the funding.
“PNGFA does its utmost to meet these Fifa requirements to maximise our access to the Fifa Forward funding. This funding is used in order to support the needs of all facets of football from national teams’ participation to specific Fifa approved programmes and projects and other football initiatives.”
The national body said with regards to national teams and selections of players, it had a selection process for all teams.
“However, during this process we can encounter issues that are outside of our control. PNGFA will continue to implement improvements to our process to provide football players the best opportunities to perform both on and off the field.”
PNGFA said it had supported the development of grassroots and youth programmes through the various coaching programmes of upskilling coaches to develop the grassroots and youth in local member associations and through schools. This has been an ongoing programme. “The onus is on our MAs and PNGFA to collectively establish programmes in our 18 MAs and sevens Associate Members in PNG.”
The notable projects that PNGFA has undertaken over the funding cycle has been the U20 Women’s World Cup, Men’s Nations Cup in Qatar, PNGFA HQ Project to name a few. This also includes the annual coaching programmes for grassroots and youth, senior women and men.