NSL hook up

TELIKOM PNG lived up to their motto of “Always there” when they renewed their naming right sponsorship with the National Soccer League (NSL) for the new season.
Telikom yesterday pumped up their overall sponsorship of the NRL to K200,000 with another injection of K50,000 yesterday in Port Moresby.
Telikom’s chief executive officer Peter Loko said his company was proud to reaffirm their support for the most skillful game of all played by many in PNG.
Loko said Telikom PNG kicked off their sponsorship three years ago with an initial K100,000 and followed  that up with K150,000 for the second year.
“We are proud to beef it up to K200,000 for this season with another K50,000,” Loko said.
With the naming right, Loko said, he would like to see NSL go another step further so that all franchise teams were supported, provide avenues for players to showcase their football skills and in turn provide spectators the opportunity to witness quality matches.
He said football would thus be the ultimate winner.
He said the increase in sponsorship was an indication that Telikom were supportive of the integrity of the NSL board and their management of the semi-professional competition.
“We are quite happy with the progress of the NSL over the past three seasons and look forward to strengthening and continuing our support in the coming years,” he said.
Loko also announced that Telikom were discussing with the PNG Football Association and the NSL board about long-term plans to take soccer into the next decade.
The details of plans will be made known before the NSL season kicks off next month.
When accepting the cheque, Kapi Natto said NSL and Telikom had been benefited from the mileage received from the media.
“I want to thank the media, who have done a tremendous job in promoting Telikom NSL last year.” 
The NSL competition is getting tougher each year with three teams – Unitech FC, Tuguba Laitepo Morobe FC  and the PNG Under-20 – confirmed from Lae, while five Port Moresby-based franchises –  Hekari United, CMSS Tigers, Eastern Star and University IFC and Gelle Hills make up the rest of the field.
Kapi Natto said Highlands and New Guinea Islands have not nominated, while Madang had until Friday to submit their expression of interest.