PNGFA looks to Fury for inspiration

SOCCER in the country looks set to benefit from an exciting partnership with an Australian A-League club, North Queensland Fury who are   based in Townsville, Australia.
Fury chairman Don Matheson and his head coach Ian Ferguson were in Port Moresby at the invitation of the PNG Football Association (PNGFA) for the Telikom National Soccer League launching and watch the first two NSL matches in Port Moresby before leaving on Sunday afternoon.
At the launching last Thursday night at Holiday Inn, Matheson told an enthusiastic crowd that the North Queensland Fury were very keen in  establishing links with PNG and its football community.
He saw this initial visit as the first of many to come from the Fury, while also announcing his commitment to bring his club up to Papua New Guinea early next year for a friendly match with the PNG national team.
A prospect that will have PNG football fans thrilled at the chance of watching  former Liverpool legend and England striker Robbie Fowler, who is the current Fury captain, playing against PNG’s best.
The friendly match is just one of several initiatives put forward to PNGFA by Matheson. PNGFA president David Chung said he was very grateful to the Fury for their interest in building a relationship with PNGFA.
Chung said he saw this as a great opportunity for Papua New Guinea players to be exposed to international football.
Matheson said they were always on the lookout for new talents.
Both Matheson and Ferguson watch the two of the three National Soccer League (NSL) matches before they left for Australia on Sunday.
Ferguson, himself an accomplished football player, having had an illustrious career with famous Scottish giants Glascow Rangers, knows what to look for in a player and will be keeping a keen eye on players in the NSL matches.
PNGFA vice-president and NSL chairman John Kapi-Natto has expressed his gratitude to the North Queensland Fury chairman and head coach for their trip to PNG, which he says shows further recognition of the success of the NSL competition and the impact it has had on the standard of football in PNG.