PNGFA seeking funds

SOCCER, like any other sport in the country, is at the mercy of corporate backing to fund its activities apart for annual grants from the sport’s international governing body, says the Papua New Guinea Football Association.
Association general secretary Pius Letenge made the comment when clarifying funding from the Government for the national men’s team, the Kapuls, to next month’s Fifa World Cup regional qualifiers in Doha, Qatar.
He said the association had written to the Government, through the Office of the Sports Minister, including several government statutory bodies and private organisation, seeking support for the national men’s and women’s teams.
Letenge said the association was awaiting a response. “It would cost over K1 million to support both teams in their quest for the World Cup qualifiers spot in their respective genders,” the association said in a statement yesterday.
Letenge clarified that for any Oceania Football Association or Fifa tournaments, they only funded air travel and accommodation, but preparations and domestic logistics were covered by the countries themselves.
He said he was optimistic that the Government or government statutory bodies would lend their support “as they usually do in the 11th hour” for national teams.
Letenge said the association was liaising with the Office of the Sports Minister to get support before the team leave on March 7.