Kapi Natto tells football critics to be reasonable

By HENRY MORABANG
THE Papua New Guinea Football Association welcomed comments from critics on the development of football.
However, the national body would only accept criticism that has substance and offers constructive alternatives to improve football.
Acting vice-president John Kapi Natto yesterday said he respected the comments as any stakeholder’s democratic right.
“They have the right to comment but it serves no useful purpose to come out in the media and speak negatively about soccer in PNG,” Kapi Natto said.
The long-time soccer backer and now administrator was responding to comments by former national coach Stalin Jawa on the performance of the PNG Kundus at the recent Nations Cup in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
Kapi Natto said he had great respect for Jawa as a former national player and coach and acknowleged his views.
He said Australia spent 30 years bringing the national team to where it was now while Tahiti took 12 years to win the Nations Cup and likewise it would take time for PNG to reach a stage where its football team was in the upper echelons of the region.
Kapi Natto did not want to indulge in debate on development of football in the country but said: “As an individual who has passion for the sport, I strongly feel that PNG football has made significant in-roads when compared to other Pacific Island countries.”
He said the men’s football was the flagship of the country and he felt that the team needed the support of not only the national body (PNGFA) but all member associations.
“Jawa may be correct in some sense, but as PNGFA head of delegation to the Nations Cup, I can say the PNG team did an exceptional job considering the form we were coming from.
“PNG has not participated in such a competition for a decade, and there should not be any whinging about the performances.”
Kapi Natto said he would appreciate critics not to compare football from the 1970s to what is in existence now.
“PNG was successful in that era because the conditions were different as is the case whenever you compare one period with another,” he said.
The acting president said the only taste of success PNG men’s football has was in 1987 when they won the bronze medal in Noumea.
“We failed to better the bronze medal win, and the 1987 squad should hold their heads high for making PNG a country to be reckoned with,” he said.
Kapi Natto said the supporters of the recent PNG Kundus should be pleased as the performances put forward by the team was encouraging.
“A lot of individuals including PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neil have commended Kundus for doing their efforts and that’s what we should be doing for our national teams.
“Most of the teams played in the tournament had the assistance of professional players who have overseas experience in France, England and the Asian League compared to PNG but we did well regardless,” he said.