PNGFA under fire

By HENRY MORABANG
ALL is not well within PNGFA hierarchy as acting president John Kapi Natto launched a stinging attack on his fellow executive members for not doing enough to spread the gospel of football.
Kapi Natto made the remarks when opening the Southern region Besta FA Cup qualifying tournament in Port Moresby last Friday.
The regional event only attracted three teams.
Disappointed with the restrictions and criteria, the acting president used the opportunity to fire a broadside on the affairs of football in the country especially on the membership at regional level.
Kapi Natto said only the Momase and Highlands region were actively involved in promoting football at regional level unlike the other two regions, Southern and New Guinea Islands.
He commended the Momase regional football association executives for their work despite little assistance from the national body and corporate organisations.
He said without the unnecessary red tape, the tournament would have attracted more teams  and exposed more talent.
Kapi Natto said the regional tournament was supposed to promote  football in the region, and PNGFA were duty bound to ensure as many teams or associations had the chance to participate. Kapi Natto vowed to solicit support to have provisional, small or suspended members also taking part to ensure fair representation.
“The regional tournaments are for teams, associations and players to take part.”
He was equally disappointed that Higaturu, Alotau, Kerema, Tabubil, Kiunga and Daru did not participate blaming PNGFA for not doing enough to bring these centres back into the football family.
“I support the critics  challenging PNGFA to find a way to bring back the suspended or smaller associations into the football fold,” he said.
“We must not set boundaries or restrictions, and hopefully in the next Southern region tournament, we must have at least six teams.”
Kapi Natto  said football in the country should be thankful for having strong corporate support.
“Besta is a multi-million kina company and they want decent promotion of their brand at high profile event,” he said.