Natives get better surface after raising concerns

The National Sports
“We are running an elite competition and by the looks of the playing surfaces, it does not meet the FIFA and Oceania Football Confederation standards,” Lae Natives team manager Nigel Kiaka said of the previous decision to host the quarterfinal match at the Kimininga Police Barracks Oval in Mt Hagen. The venue has been change to NSI.

By PATRICIA KEAMO
NORTHERN conference runners-up Lae Natives are happy with the change in venue for the National Soccer League quarterfinals from Mt Hagen to the National Sports Institute (NSI) in Goroka.
Team manager Nigel Kiaka had raised concerns on the standard of the Kimininga Police Barracks oval in Mt Hagen which was the initial venue for the play-off fixture between Natives and Highlands winners Ape Aporo.
Kiaka told The National yesterday that Goroka was a more central location for his side to travel to given the distance between Lae and Mt Hagen.
“At least NSI is a bit closer for us to travel plus it’s a sporting institute so the pitch would be much better for us to play,” Kiaka said.
“If we were to travel on Thursday or Friday to Mt Hagen, the players would be tired from the trip and that would affect us on game day so we’re happy with the change.
“We are still sorting out our logistics arrangements as well as accommodation and catering so we should travel on Friday morning.”
Kiaka said the delay in their travel arrangement was due to the Papua New Guinea Football Association not releasing funds that would be paid to their service provider for the trip to Goroka.
“This (funding) was supposed to be released to us as early as Tuesday so by now we’ll prepare to travel but we should have that sorted out (today),” Kiaka said.
“The club doesn’t have sponsors so we’re relying on support from individuals to manage accommodation and catering while we’re in Goroka.
“But everyone is putting their support behind the team. The main thing is we don’t have to worry about the team playing on a surface that’s not up to standard.”
Meanwhile, competition manager Ahmjad Tekwie said Natives along with the two clubs from Mt Hagen – Ape Aporo and Kuri – had to submit their travel invoices from respective service providers for the association’s finance department to release the funds.
“PNGFA will only cater for the road transport cost of K1,500 (as per the competition regulation), other cost incurred will be covered by the respective clubs,” Tekwie told The National yesterday.
“Same goes for the New Guinea Islands team travelling to Port Moresby. We will only cater for airfare of 18 people per club – that’s for 16 players and two officials.
“Other expenses will be met by the clubs.
“The NGI teams will depart on Sunday after the quarterfinals however if they proceed into the semifinal, they will be brought back next Thursday or Friday.
“For Natives and Aporo, the initial match venue was at Kimininga Police Barracks oval however we’ve decided to change to NSI given that the field is more conducive at this time.”
Tekwie added that Kimbe Eagles and Panguna Metals were scheduled to arrive in the nation’s capital tomorrow while Natives, Aporo and Kuri should travel by this afternoon or tomorrow morning to Goroka and Lae.