Natto launches league

THE launching of the Sivitanata Football Association in Rigo, Central, by Football Federation PNG is expected to transform the village.
The association was launched by president of NCDFA, an affiliate to FFPNG, Vonnie Kapi Natto, general secretary of Sivitatana Football Association, Koi Vaiuma, and coordinator of FFPNG’s Southern Conference Edward Mimino.
The competition will have six men’s and four women’s teams competing with finals in September.
Vaiuma said the area has been lacking in football and with assistance from FFPNG, they hoped to see developments.
“Football was played here since the 1980s but there had not been any advances to go out, we played against ourselves,” Vaiuma said.
“Last year in December FFPNG came to our area and invited us to be an affiliate so we started upgrading our venue with help from our chiefs, community members and FFPNG.
“The upgrading of the field lifted the morale and desire of the players here. With FFPNG coming here to show their backing it means a lot to our people.
“There is now a lot of interest from people but unfortunately with only one field (Wintom field) we can only play a few games, so we came up with 10 teams only, and also we have only one day to host our games.
“But with a lot of interest now, we are planning to write to the Rigo district office to help us with funds to establish another field.”
Vaiuma, on behalf of the people, thanked FFPNG president John Kapi Natto and his family and executives for giving them the opportunity.
“For us to be an affiliate, we see this as a gateway to the football world,”Vaiuma added.
“We have been left behind, we played football and then went gardening and hunting and that was all.
“There was no opportunity to go out to places like Port Moresby and play there even though we had the road to connect us.
“So I can proudly describe FFPNG as a soccer garden in PNG helping us at the grassroots level to go out and showcase our potential.”