Letenge: NSL season in limbo

By PATRICIA KEAMO
THE fate of the National Soccer League (NSL) season amid the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic is yet to be decided, according to Papua New Guinea Football Association general secretary Pius Letenge.
It is now more than two months since the suspension of the season in compliance with the National Control Centre’s Covid-19 measures.
Letenge told The National earlier this month that an option was to get players and officials vaccinated, however, most players had refused the jab, forcing the association to await further advice from the centre.
“Following our meeting two weeks ago with managers of the 14 clubs, we advised that the national pandemic response controller’s condition for resumption was vaccination,” he said.
“But since the majority of clubs refused vaccination, we don’t have any option now.
“The association is waiting to see whether the controller will ease the measures and we’ll see how to resume the season. After that, whatever decision is made will have to go through the association’s executive committee for approval.”
Letenge said the association would also have to provide a situational report and consult their sponsors before announcing whatever decision regarding the 2021 season.
Meanwhile, clubs from outside provinces are considering withdrawing from the competition to return home due to financial constraints caused by the lengthy hiatus.
The National reached out to the association’s competition director, Roosje Suwae, on how this would affect the league if the season was to resume, however, no comment was forthcoming.