NSL season start deferred

By PATRICIA KEAMO
THE start of the new National Soccer League season is likely to be deferred from Aug 13 to a later date, says the Papua New Guinea Football Association.
“The season is supposed to kick off next month,” association general secretary Pius Letenge told The National on Tuesday.
“But our staff have been displaced from the PNG Football Stadium office due to counting for Moresby North-East at Sir John Guise Stadium,” he said.
“We’ve been locked out of the office for three weeks, so the competition department and technical staff can’t do much to prepare for kick-off in two weeks.”
Letenge said expressions of interest had been sent to clubs in May.
“About 18 teams are expected to compete this season which will be played in the conference format,” he said.
“We’ll have six teams each in the Northern, Southern, Highlands and New Guinea Islands (NGI) conferences. There’s a possibility of an Eastern Conference.
“But that is if teams from Manus or Kimbe (West New Britain) expresses interest to compete. The reason we’re trying to strengthen the league is to give an opportunity to clubs to make their way up to the National Premier League, which will kick off later this year.
“In the past, it was limited to only participating club championships and football associations which was done away with some years back.” Meanwhile, Mt Hagen will host the Highlands Conference while Port Moresby and Lae will host the Southern and Northern conferences respectively.
“Bougainville will host the NGI conference,” Letenge said this week.
“If the Eastern Conference is approved by the association’s executive committee, Kimbe will be the host.”