Moresby soccer cancels season

Covid-19 forces hand of PNG’s biggest football association

THE Port Moresby Soccer Association (PMSA) will now look to improve Bisini Soccer Ground following the cancellation of this year’s competition due to the Covid-19 pandemic, says president Joseph Ealedona.
He said despite the cancellation being a “sad and hard decision”, the executive management had endorsed it in the best interest of the country’s biggest soccer association, its members and players.
“The pandemic remains fluid,” Ealedona said in a statement on Saturday.
“Parliament will decide the fate of the state of emergency next week.
“But as we all know, the virus has come into the country.
“While all eight persons who had tested positive have recovered, our decision is based on the need to remain vigilant to ensure there is no case and if there is one, there is no spread.”
Ealedona said PMSA would decide on a less condensed (sevens or nines) competition to keep players fit and occupied.
“But this will be done with strict Covid-19 protocols which will be drawn up in consultation with the Papua New Guinea Sports Foundation and Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA),” he said.
“PNGSF has drawn up a return-to-sports protocol so we will draft ours within that framework and with the PNGFA Football protocols, and in line with the new norms the Government will announce.”
Ealedona said PMSA would also review its competition format and management, and discuss with PNGSF “on our desire to fix the Bisini Football Ground infrastructure, especially the seating and shade for spectators”.
“The facilities are inadequate and have not been maintained to our expectation,” he said.
“It is a bad legacy from the 2015 Pacific Games.
“The infrastructure and our land lease are important areas to fix, so we will use this window to sort all these out.”
Ealedona thanked PMSA members and stakeholders for their patience and understanding.
“The new condensed competition is likely to start in July and I’m encouraging players to remain fit and prepare for kick-off,” he said.