Soccer welcomes law

FOOTBALL in Papua New Guinea is set to benefit from the recent government decision to allow dual citizenship with several overseas-based players eager to pull on the national colours in the near future.
“The Papua New Guinea Football Association fully supports the concept of dual citizenship and we thank the PNG Government, especially the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Rimbink Pato, for pushing the concept to be ready by March,” PNGFA vice-president John Wesley Gonjuan said.
With PNG set to face Tahiti home-and-away in their opening Oceania Stage 3 qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia next month, as many as four players of PNG descent hoping for their dual citizenship to be approved could be included in national coach Flemming Serritslev’s 23-man squad and fulfil their dream of playing for their birth nation.
“PNGFA also want to thank the Minister of Sports, National Events and APEC Justin Tkatchenko for his support of the concept and also in assisting us to promote the concept to identify talent outside of PNG,” said Gonjuan.
Earlier in the month, Tkatchenko met with one of the hopeful players, George Slefendorfas, who is currently based in Australia.
Slefendorfas was in the country with another Australian-based player, Brad McDonald, in camp with the PNG men’s team with one-eye on the dual citizenship proposal being accepted. “Dual citizenship has given us the opportunity to identify talented players based abroad with PNG heritage and who are committed to represent our country. These players will add great value and experience to talent that we have already within the team,” said Gonjuan.
Joining Slefendorfas and McDonald in pledging their loyalty to Papua New Guinea are New Zealand-based pair Aaron Spain and Jamie Woodlock.
“We hope that these players are the first of many that will make themselves eligible to represent Papua New Guinea in both men’s and women’s football.  The impact that will have both on and off the pitch is huge,” Gonjuan said.