LFA to hold annual meet

By GABRIEL LAHOC
LAE Football Association president Toki Mambare has refuted claims that PNG’s biggest soccer association is being poorly managed and says the annual general meeting will be held this Saturday in Lae.
He said the meeting would be held at the Huon Gulf motel where his presidency would be challenged and LFA’s financial reports
be presented.
Mambare was responding to Panamex Cosmos head coach Eric Niwoh’s claim that the 22 clubs were against moves by the LFA executives to further postpone the meeting to next year.
Niwoh said earlier this week that the meeting, which had not been held since 2007, was likely to be postponed to 2013 after two deferrals this year.
In an email response yesterday, Mambare countered Niwoh’s claim that the standard of football and development of the code in the province was dropping because of the non-transparent leadership by Mambare’s executive team.
“Under my leadership we have proved to PNG that we were the champion association, winning the Besta FA Cup in 2011 and 2012 and all other PNGFA sanctioned tournaments,” Mambare said.
“We have improved the LFA facilities and for the first time LFA will take part in the Telikom National Soccer League with their own team – Morobe United FC – in 2013,” he said.
Mambare said Niwoh was sacked as LFA general secretary two years ago.
Niwoh dismissed claims by Mambare that he was not a financial member of LFA and was not eligible to vote at the meeting
“I will attend the AGM as I paid my membership fee of K25.
“I have the voting right under the Lae Football Association constitution and I can also take up any nomination for any position,” he said.