Move or stay

PAPUA New Guinea’s semi-professional competition, the Telikom National Soccer League (NSL), opens the transfer window today allowing players to move to other franchise clubs if they so wish.
National Soccer League development manager Chris Brown said the transfer window would be opened for only three weeks – the period the competition is in recess.
The competition is expected to resume on Jan 14.
Brown said the clubs would use the break during the festive season to sign up or register new players for their second half of the competition.
He added the NSL board was calling on the clubs to start making arrangements for players’ transfer rather than leaving it for later.
Brown said the PNG Football Association (PNGFA) and the NSL board were confident all transfers were done transparently to ensure all parties concerned benefited.
He wants to see a professional approach taken in the process.
He is also calling on clubs to respect each other and formalise all requests for players’ transfers by going through the right channels and procedures the PNGFA and the franchise owners.
The competition will also go into recess this weekend for the festive season.
However, after the close of competition last weekend, reigning champions Hekari United consolidated their position as leaders after thrashing NBS Tukoko University 5-0 in one of the double headers in Lae. In the other match, City Pharmacy Eastern Stars edged MMJV Bulolo United 2-1.
In Port Moresby, Besta (PNG) United defeated Gigira Laitepo Central Coast 3-1.
Hekari United are currently on 20 points followed by Eastern Stars (16), Besta United (16), Central Coast (13), Tukoko University (7), Petro Souths (4) and Bulolo (4)   
In the Ox & Palm Women’s National Soccer League, VATS Yamaros have sneaked into the top spot with seven points displacing Mungkas (6), University (2) and Hekari United (1) in the Port Moresby leg.
In Lae, Poro are outright leaders with nine points followed by Bara (6), PNG Power (3) and Wau (0).