League structure tweaks will boost soccer: PNGFA

PAPUA New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) general secretary Dimirit Mileng says changes in the league structure of the country’s premier soccer competition will boost the development of players.
“The conference league is a system that we want to introduce throughout the country,” the said in Port Moresby on Tuesday.
“PNGFA will look at how we can ensure that all centres participate at the conference level.
“I see that there is pathway for us to pick players from conferences for the premier league.
“But if we try to pick players from the club level for the premier league, it takes time to train them.
“Therefore, we are trying to put a conference league in place so that it will improve the players.
“The other reason why we have changed this structure was because in the conference league, nobody is coming up with their dues to play.
“No business, politician or leader came out to support their clubs and even if they do, it doesn’t show.
“That was the problem we faced last season. So PNGFA went back and assessed how it would run the conference league.
“In the premier league, everyone has to play at the top level. We don’t want to sea seasonal clubs. They must be there for the long run.
“That’s the only way to improve the competition. And in turn, the best teams will be more competitive at the Oceania Football Confederation Champions League and other regional tournaments.”
Meanwhile, the Kumul Petroleum National Soccer League kicks off on Saturday with 10 teams — Star Mountain, Mineral Resources Development Company Hekari United, Vitias United, Petroleum Resources Kutubu Gulf Komara, Bougainville, Morobe Wawens, Lae City, Morobe United, Tusbab Stallions and Kutubu.”