NSL’s windfall

 By HENRY MORABANG

THE National Gaming Control Board (NGCB) yesterday jumped on the sponsorship wagon allocating K200,000 to PNG’s premier football competition, the National Soccer League (NSL).

NGCB chief executive officer Simon Sanagke presented the money to National Soccer League chairman John Kapi-Natto at Ela Beach Hotel in Port Moresby. 

NGCB chairman Leonard Louma and his deputy Graham Osborne plus the PNG Football Association and NSL staff witnessed the brief presentation.

Sanagke said one of the NGCB’s missions was to support sports and he was pleased with the gaming board’s decision to support football.

“We are pleased to support soccer because it is one sport that has put us on the world map with Hekari United FC, whom we assisted with K100,000 toward their preparation, participating in the FIFA Club World Cup  in Abu Dhabi last year,” he said.

Sanagke said NGCB was impressed with NSL’s administration and overall management and was confident it would continue to develop and lift the standard of PNG football.

He also congratulated PNGFA president David Chung on his election as Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) president last week.

Sanagke said NGCB was always proud to support any sport which was making tangible progress and being recognised internationally. 

PNGFA senior vice-president Kapi-Natto thanked NGCB and commend them for doing a wonderful job throughout the country by supporting sports since their establishment.

He said NSL started six years ago basically to create a pathway and improve the standard of football.

Kapi-Natto said Hekari’s participation in Abu Dhabi was testament to the success of the NSL and is a milestone for PNG’s football fraternity.

He said the sponsorship was timely and, along with  funding from the competition’s major sponsor Telikom, would be put towards the development of the  NSL and also help the proposed womens national competition get on its feet.