Over-reaction to name change

 IT may be an administrative matter and something that will probably be cleared up in due course.

But the impression given by the Papua New Guinea Football Association in suspending the National Capital District Football body over its change of name smacks of the kind of small-mindedness that prevents the code from reaching its full potential.

One wonders what serious legal ramifications can possibly impact on PNGFA’s operations through this act. 

If the executives of the sport’s governing body can state clearly how moving from one name to another will adversely affect the game, then more power to them. 

But if they cannot give a valid argument why suspending what is arguably one of the best-run soccer competitions in the country is absolutely necessary, then they have shown their true colours as a body run by petty and prosaic people. 

PNGFA general-secretary Dimirit Mileng, in a letter dated August 30 to the NCD Public Servants Soccer Association – now known as the NCDFA – stated: “Having read through the information, the secretariat office could not ascertain the legality of changing a name of an established association with another name. 

“Therefore, the documents have been passed over to lawyers of PNGFA and OFC (Oceania Football Confederation) to review and advise.

“While we await the advice of the legal team, PNGFA cannot from the date of this correspondence accept NCDFA to participate in any PNGFA-sanctioned activities until such time legal advice is sought.”  

Those who are familiar with the soccer landscape will know that between 2008 and 2012, soccer politics at the national level held sway over all other issues.

The battle for the president’s position caused division and ructions among associations around the country. 

The Port Moresby Soccer Association, long held as one of the leading competitions in the country, is only coming out of a lengthy suspension by the PNGFA for apparently failing to come to terms with the mother body’s directives. 

Now we see the city’s other major competition hindered by red tape. 

There must be a reason why the organisation, formerly known as the NCD Public Servants Soccer Association, decided on a name change. 

We can only assume that the change was based on the fact that the old name holds no relevance to the players or clubs. 

There are hardly any public servants actually playing in this competition.

This is instructive as, under the new management, the competition is taking on an increasingly private sector look.

Its  clubs are garnering support from the business community and are playing a progressively higher standard of football,  setting a benchmark for its city rivals, the PMSA. 

To put it simply, the ‘public servants’ moniker is meaningless to the current competition. 

Are we to understand that a change of name will in effect jeopardise the competition, and more importantly its players’ participation in provincial and national competitions? 

PNGFA is holding to ransom a significant block of the city’s soccer playing population.  

They should expect the furore this will create.

 Some fans have already voiced their discontent.

In a letter to The National a soccer fan wrote: “This association (NCDFA) has a very strong youth programme which is good not only for NCDFA but PNG as well. Player discipline, which is lacking in many associations is ever present at NCDFA and we, the supporters, are pleased with what the current executives under the leadership of the Kapi-Nattos, have done for the game. 

“ It is very sad for PNGFA to take such a nonsensical action at this time.” 

With the NCDFA competition heading into its playoff stages, their players, supporters and administrators will have this dark cloud hanging over their heads. 

Is this a fair outcome? Does a vibrant competition really need to be dragged down this road all in the name of checking the legality of something as trivial as a name change? 

This is a matter that can easily be resolved behind closed doors. 

By its actions the PNGFA has made it clear that no matter is too small or mundane to escape its attention.