Natto: Funding vital to PNGFA affiliates

By HENRY MORABANG
THE technical department of the PNG Football Association (PNGFA) needs to acquire more funding to help member association this season.
The PNGFA senior vice-president John Kapi Natto said the technical department was not doing enough.
He said those within the department needed more funding to allow them to travel and spend time with member associations in PNG.
Kapi Natto said the PNGFA was not spending enough time with its affiliates especially those who were suspended and how they could become members again.
Some suspended affiliates need special attention from the PNGFA on how they could meet affiliation requirements.
He said they could be motivated to ensure their competitions were functioning and complying with the regulations of the PNGFA.
He added that the regulation of the men’s and women’s National Soccer League needed to be reviewed and properly implemented.
“Several of our NSL players are violating the regulations playing in other lower competitions. This is violating the bylaws of the NSL and needs to be stopped,” he said.
“PNGFA and the NSL should maintain high standards.”
He said the Besta FA Cup tournament needed to be re-looked at and run as a member association championship with more member associations joining.
There should be regulations or by-laws to guide and monitor the competition.
Kapi Natto said the PNG needed to bring a few international matches to PNG and see where her chances were rather than playing overseas.
Last year, Telikom (PNG) Ltd continued to sponsor the men’s National Soccer League for the sixth consecutive year while services sponsors such Coca-Cola Amatil and Air Niugini backed the semi-professional competition.
He said NSL teams from member associations were very encouraging but a lot of work needed to be done.
However, it was women’s football last year, winning their goal medal at the Pacific Games in Noumea, New Caledonia to become queens of the Pacific.
They also secured a lucrative support from Hugo Canning (Ox & Palm) – in only their second year in the competition.
The win at the Pacific Games had propelled them into 52nd position on the FIFA ranking making it the highest achievement for women football in PNG.
He however said there was more work to be done.
The women’s competition will continue to attract more young girls to compete and find their way into the 2015 Pacific Games.
“Our women need to perform very well in their season.
Although the men missed out on the past Pacific Games, they had come along way to climb from below 200 in the FIFA ranking to 187.
“I am so excited about it and I know the boys can do it,” he said.
Kapi Natto said the NSL competition would provide the men’s squad a lot of experience.
He is confident the men and women teams would do well in the 2014 World Cup qualifier in Fiji next year.