Revamped NSL comp launched

By ISAAC LIRI
THE 2017-2018 National Soccer League season was launched last Friday in Port Moresby with confirmation of seven participating clubs.
The clubs are Toti City FC (formerly Lae City Dwellers), Madang FC, Besta PNG United, Buang FC and newcomers FC Momase, FC Morobe Wawens and the Southern Strikers.
Officially launching the semi-professional competition was NSL board chairman Benny Popoitai, PNG Football Association senior vice-president John Wesley Gonjuan and chief executive Dimirit Mileng.
Popoitai said they would work hard this season to improve the competition and ensure the clubs, fans and football community benefited from the country’s top-tier competition.
The tournament encountered difficulties last season with funding which resulted in the cancellation of the finals after PS United withdrew from the competition heading into the playoffs.
Popoitai took the opportunity to apologise to fans, clubs and players for letting them down.
“I like to apologize to the soccer fraternity that we ended the last NSL season abruptly,” Popoitai said.
“It was due to circumstances beyond our control.”
Popoitai said despite the unfortunate end to the competition, his board were hopeful there would not be a repeat in the 2018 season and they aim to spread the game to as many centres and making it easier for clubs to participate.
“This Saturday we’ll see one game in Madang, one in Lae and one in Port Moresby,” he said.
“Last year we kicked off in one centre only but this time in three different venues at the same time so everyone in these places gets the chance to see the matches.”
The NSL will start without a major naming rights sponsor.
“We haven’t secured a naming rights sponsor yet, PNGFA is basically underwriting this competition with an amount of K100, 000,” Popoitai said.
“We’re still looking for a naming rights sponsor and we have talked to a few companies but it’s not crucial at this point in time.
“We are looking at a sponsor that is prepared to come in for the long term, where we can build a relationship with. It takes time to build and run a successful competition but once we establish that then we showcase what we can do and how we can manage the competition, that is important for a win-win relationship between the sponsor and NSL.”
NSL will also feature a new format of registration this year with all clubs expected to pay in three stages.
First payment of K25,000 is a month prior to the competition, the second lot (K30,000) a week before the competition kick off, and then the full balance of the payment (K25,000) must be made at the end of first round when the transfer window opens.
The registration total amount is similar to last year which is K80,000.
PNGFA senior vice-president John Wesley Gonjuan said the reason was to make it easier for teams to meet the requirements instead of having the burden of paying in full.
The prize money will be announced at a later date.
Round 1 Fixtures: Sat, Jan 13 – Madang v FC Morobe Wawens (Laiwaden Oval, Madang), Toti City FC v Besta PNG United FC (Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium, Lae), Southern Strikers v FC Momase (Bisini Soccer Grounds, Port Moresby); Bye: Buang FC.