Parkop to patronise Lae football

By GABRIEL LAHOC
NCD Governor Powes Parkop is the new patron of one the biggest soccer associations in the country outside of Port Moresby, the Lae Football Association (LFA).
The official announcement was made last Saturday during the Besta FA Cup regional tournament at Panamex Park by LFA president Toki Mambare, in the presence of Parkop who flew into Lae for that occasion.
Parkop, in accepting patronage, said it was an honour especially as he was a visiting governor at one of the country’s football strongholds – Morobe province.
He said soccer had always been part of the people’s way of life and his involvement at this level would be used as a tool to promote the code to another level, especially at the grassroots.
He thankedthe  International Food Corporation (IFC) and the PNG Football Association (PNGFA) in promoting the grassroots level of soccer through the regional challenge, the Besta FA Cup, which after the regional eliminations, would climax in Port Moresby.
He hailed the good qualities of soccer players which were, among others,  sound leadership, discipline in their conduct and respect for their opponents
“The elite competition, the National Soccer League cannot survive without the local associations and such tournaments.
The government needs to put more money and assistance into developing sports,” he said.
He said other codes were progressing ahead of soccer with serious funding from the government, especially rugby league.
“Papua New Guineans have natural talents in sports, and through the right development and technical coacing support, we can create sports stars out of our talented but unrecognised youths from the villages and settlements,” he said.
The NCD governor promised as part of the next government to push for more assistance and investment into sports particularly those codes that already had a wide following like soccer.