Schools’ Football Association registered with IPA, says Agovai

SCHOOLS soccer — operating as the Schools’ Football Association Port Moresby Inc — is registered with PNG Investment Promotion Authority, an official says.
The aim and objective of the association is to develop excellent footballers in the country from an early age.
“Since 2016 the re-introduction of schools’ soccer after seven years, a lot of changes happened which propelled our development aspirations to higher levels of recognition within the football circles,” association secretary John Agovai said.
“Currently we have 20 schools engaged due to limited venues, although we have more schools in the National Capital District.
“The age divisions taking part are Under-6, U8, and U10 (mixed teams) and U12, U14, U16 and U18 separate teams for boys and girls.
“Our development path is simple, from school soccer talented footballers are selected into academies — Mogisan academy for U6s to U10s and Centoro Sports for U12s to U17s.
“From the Centoro Sports academy players are drafted into the Southern Strikers which is our elite development team that competes in the National Soccer League.”
Agovai said the Southern Strikers Football Club Limited was the business arm of the school soccer.
Any funds generated by the Southern Strikers Ltd goes to helping fund the development activities of schools’ soccer.
“Our games are played at East Boroko oval (U6, U8, U10, Gordon Inter oval (U12 and U14), while the Sir John Guise Stadium accommodates the U16s and U18s games,” Agovai said.
“This year we have two planned overseas tournaments which our players — in July the U16 and U18 boys and girls will attend the Canberra Kanga Cup tournament and in September our U10, U12 and U14 boys and girls travel to Cains for the John Bomben Cup.
“Through such overseas tournaments, our players will harness their skills further and gain experience at higher level competitions.”
For accountability and transparency, the association has its accounts administered by the Port Moresby International School which provides quarterly reports to stakeholders.