PNGFA: Jab is a must for qualifiers

By ROBINSON LEKA
NATIONAL men’s football train-on squad members who refuse to take the Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine will not be considered for next year’s World Cup Oceania qualifiers in Qatar, says the Papua New Guinea Football Association.
Association general secretary Pius Letenge told The National that vaccination was a requirement for players and officials participating in Fifa-sanctioned events.
“If you prefer not to take the vaccine then you have to leave the national team and that’s non-negotiable,” he said.
“It’s a requirement from the sport’s world governing body (Fifa) and the Oceania Football Confederation, which the PNGFA falls under.
“We will be asked by the confederation and Fifa to provide vaccination certification for our players and officials prior to them leaving.
“So this is going to be one major requirement that players will have to consider.
“We’ve spoken about this policy to the players in camp this week and they’re aware of what is happening.
“It will be something that we will be speaking to players about in the coming weeks.”
Letenge said the association was finalising contracts for players who would make the final squad with regard to vaccination as a requirement to play for the national team.
“We are doing up contracts that the players will have to agree to when joining the national team and vaccination will be a part of it,” he said.
“We are finalising the documentation for those contracts and we will have them ready when the final squad is assembled.
“Fifa has a strict policy on players taking part in international tournaments and sanctioned matches to be vaccinated. So that’s going to be compulsory for those who wish to be in the national team.”