NSL delays start

Four teams yet to meet registration requirements

UNCERTAINTY around the confirmation of teams has forced the National Soccer League (NSL) board to defer the start of the Papua New Guinea’s premier football competition.
As of yesterday, only four sides of the eight-team competition has met the registration requirements for the 2019-2020 season which was supposed to start tomorrow.
The registration requirements include each team’s roster of 30 players and officials along with an K80,000 fee per franchise.
The NSL secretariat can confirm that defending champions Lae City, Hekari United, Bougainville and Kutubu have met the requirements, according to a PNG Football Association statement.
The board had initially agreed on last Saturday as the deadline for the submission of registration requirements. But by then, only four clubs had met the requirements.
According to the secretariat, a report has been passed on to the NSL board for a decision to be made. A note was also sent to each teams informing them of the postponement.
“Therefore, it is unlikely that season will start as announced,” the statement said.
“Registration affects the draws which need to be done prior to the start of the season. “The secretariat regrets for any inconveniences this may cause to the public and all football lovers throughout the country.
“A new date (for kick-off) will be decided by the board soon.”