Lae soccer to run Masters 7s, promote unity

A MASTERS 7s soccer tournament will run from Jan 11-13 at the Lae Football Association Park according to coordinator Susan Watpore.
The three-day tournament for players 35 years and older is sponsored by the Mineral Resource Development Company (MRDC) and is expected to draw interests from Lae’s large soccer community as well from the Morobe province.
Watpore said it was a great way to kick off the year.
The Masters 7s is the initiative of LFA president Roy Kamen together with support of the PNG Football Association president John Kapi Natto with the main purpose to get past players and members of the football fraternity interested in the game and promote unity.
Watpore said since the announcement of the tournament following the week-long Wawens Cup tournament teams from Kainantu, Madang and Lae had shown interest.
She said they were expecting more than 20 teams to participate with an U15 division to be run as well.
“We must develop soccer at this age group and with parents here to play this age group of children tags along so we must develop football at this age for the kids,” she said
“We still have differences among ourselves since the split and formation of two soccer associations in the country but now we are one.
“In this tournament we want to bring everyone together in the Masters 7s and leave behind our differences to see soccer move forward.”
Watpore said they would announce registration details and other information this week.