PNGFA adds comps

Kapi Natto sets leagues to kick off alongside NSL

By ROBINSON LEKA
THE Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) yesterday announced two additional national competitions that will kick off alongside the Kumul Petroleum National Soccer League (NSL) next month.
PNGFA president John Kapi Natto said that apart from the NSL, there would be a women’s league and a premier men’s conference competition.
The conference competition will see PNGFA member associations fielding development teams (Under-23s) to compete in home and away matches in their respective regions.
“PNGFA is taking a bit of a twist, last year we had a conference league which was played throughout the country,” he said.“When we looked at the competition, we realised that we had to go one step further.
“There’s a game changer in Oceania and we want to make sure that we have a competition that is preparing itself for a professional league (in the region).
“We’re doing that now because in 2021 or 2022, Oceania will go into a professional league.
“We are now giving the conference league back to member associations.
“We are trying to involve member associations. We’re preparing them to be professional.”
Kapi Natto said there would only be six spots per conference and expressions of interest were now open to member associations that were willing to put forward a team while the NSL will have eight spots to interested franchises.
The National Soccer League Women’s Competition will only feature the Northern and Southern conferences which have both been allowed two spots in the inaugural season.