PMSA challenged

By HENRY MORABANG
THE job of getting Port Moresby soccer back into the PNG Football Association rests on the new Port Moresby Soccer Association (PMSA) executive and their affiliated clubs.
PNGFA acting president John Kapi Natto said this after commending the club delegates for installing Russel Tsuga as new head of the suspended PMSA.
“Warming the president’s chair at the national level, I’m pleased to see the clubs stand up and sort out their differences and take the first step to getting their house in order. 
“Issues aside, the PNGFA want to see PMSA back in the fold,” he said.
Kapi Natto apologised for missing the PMSA annual general meeting last Sunday but said he was satisfied the election of the new office bearers took place.
 He said the main objective now was to ensure the PMSA executive met all the conditions sets by PNGFA before the matter of Port Moresby’s re-entry into the national body which would first go to the executive meeting for discussion and endorsement.
He said apart from PMSA election, he commended the Momase region for the staging the first leg of the Besta Cup soccer challenge.
“Lae are worthy champions and will represent Momase while New Guinea Island will host the second leg of the Besta Cup next week,” he said.
The Besta Cup provides opportunities for rural youth to showcase their talent during the three-day tournament.
Kapi Natto, who is also the franchise owner of Hekari United FC, announced that club training would start in August.
In a new rule, NSL franchises must have the backing of their respective feeder associations, with Hekari needing NCDPSSA support.
He said in doing so, Hekari would scout its players from the clubs taking part in the NCDPSSA, plus inclusion of five new youth players from Besta PNG and overseas recruits.
“We will be writing to the players for trials with the clubs and if they are successful they will be signed on for the season.
“The club may lose some players but this will not dampen the morale for  the O-League competition,” he said.
Currently, Hekari (PNG), Koloala FC (Solomon Islands) and Amical FC (Vanuatu) have retained their spots for the 2011-12 season with a New Zealand club to join them for this season competition.