Isorua hails teams for accepting delay

COMPETITION director Paul Isorua has acknowledged all 14 Women’s National Soccer League (WNSL) clubs for accepting a one-week deferral of the semifinals.
The semifinals were initially scheduled for Saturday but due to the national mourning period of the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, they had been moved to March 20.
This is to allow the football fraternity as well as stakeholders and followers to pay their respects to the country’s founding father.
“The notice of this deferral was circulated through a circular to all the WNSL clubs and they have accepted it in good faith,” Isorua said.
“The first of the two semifinals will kick-off at 1pm between Southern Conference winners Genesis and Northern Conference runners-up Sepik.
“Northern Conference winners Poro will play Southern Conference runners-up Hekari United at 3pm at Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium in Lae.”
The losers will play for third spot in a curtain-raiser to the March 27 grand final at Papua New Guinea Football Stadium in Port Moresby.
Meanwhile, Isorua said due to the surge in Covid-19 cases, they were awaiting the PNG Sports Foundation for any decision regarding the change of protocols for the venues.
“There were five protocol phases rolled out by the foundation last year which we applied during the Kumul Petroleum NSL,” he said.
“So the same protocols will be applied to the WNSL finals if need be.
“Whatever advice we receive from the foundation’s Covid-19 committee, we will implement during the finals.”
“If it means we won’t have spectators, we will comply but those stages will be updated towards the finals.”