K330,000 kick of NSL challenge

By LESLIE OMARO
THE 2011-12 National Soccer League (NSL) season got a morale boost when major sponsor Telikom PNG kicked the competition off with a K330,000 sponsorship.
The season which starts next weekend will have seven teams; defending champions Hekari United, CPL Eastern Stars, Tukoko University Lae, Petro Souths, Gigira Laitepo of Central, Bulolo United and Besta (PNG) United.
The two new teams this season are Bulolo United from Morobe and Gigira Laitepo Central.
PNG Football Association president David Chung, who flew in from Auckland to receive the sponsorship, was proud that Telikom was sponsoring the NSL for the fifth season.
“On behalf of the National Soccer League I am happy to accept this cheque,”  Chung said when receiving the sponsorship from Telikom chief executive officer Peter Loko.
“Our partnership with Telikom has grown from strength to strength and there are still areas we need to polish up on.”
Chung said plans were in the pipeline for the National Soccer League  matches to be telecast live throughout PNG.
“A meeting with EMTV will be about bringing football to TV soon because in Europe it is big, soccer matches are telecast live and I wanted that to happen here in PNG.
“Bringing the matches live to the rest of the country will also be as part of promoting and initiating our partnership,” he said.
Loko said Telikom PNG had been behind NSL since its inception in 2007 and this season would be no different.
“Although, the number of franchise teams has dropped from eight to seven this season, we are expecting yet another display of skilful football from these teams.
“I congratulate the two teams for making it into the NSL and wish them along with the other five franchise teams all the best this season.
“I encourage you to keep violence off the field and be good sports ambassadors for the code as well as the franchise and communities you represent.
“I encourage the players to play a fair, skilled, disciplined and entertaining game this season,” said Loko.
Chung also said this season unlike previous NSL seasons, franchises would  now take full responsibility of of their home matches.
“This season, the management of franchise will take over the home games and that means they will be responsible for security, gate takings and other things that are associated with hosting a home game,” he said.
Chung told the media at the Telikom Rumana that there were no plans to expand the NSL competition.
“Like I always said, we start small because it’s all about quality not quantity, we are developing the quality players for the future,” he said.