Soccer’s split to be adressed at congress

THE much-anticipated Papua New Guinea Football Association Congress will be at the end of the month.
The gathering of PNGFA member associations, affiliates as well as those from the breakaway Football Federation of PNG (FFPNG), which has since been dissolved as per a Fifa directive, will be in Port Moresby on Oct 27.
The main purpose of the congress is for the PNGFA and former FFPNG associations to re-unite and find a way forward for PNG soccer after a split that has lasted more than a year.
The meeting will elect a new PNGFA president.
The meeting was initially scheduled for Sept 29 but was postponed by the PNGFA executive because of a lack of funds to stage it.
In a statement released yesterday, PNGFA said it had taken steps to address the situation of a divided sport.
PNGFA executive committee met on Sept 8 to set agenda for the unification of the two parties.
This was done after PNGFA acting president John Wesley Gonjuan had met with FFPNG president John Kapi Natto in late June – signalling moves to solve the impasse between the PNGFA and the disenfranchised associations that had banded together.
The aim was to reunite with member associations that had broken away from the PNGFA after the suspension of seven member associations on Dec 28, 2016.
The PNGFA reiterated in the statement that it was still the only legitimate soccer body recognised by the regional body (Oceania Football Confederation) and the world body (Fifa).
With the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Aug 31 the parties agreed to a number of requirements that needed to be met after the signing.
The two most important tasks was the lifting of the suspension of the seven member associations and that the breakaway members cease operating as FFPNG.
PNGFA took the first step with the resolution of the executive committee through the secretariat office officially informing the Bougainville Football Federation, Hekari Soccer Association, Koupa Soccer Association, Lae Football Association, Manus Soccer Association, Mendi Soccer Association and Wabag Soccer Association on Sept 10 that the suspension had been lifted.
“While the rest of the tasks outlined in the MoU are ongoing events, this particular event taken by the PNGFA board signals a new chapter for soccer. The lifting of the suspensions is a mile stone for football in the country,” the PNGFA said.
The executive committee acknowledged the efforts of Gonjuan and Kapi Natto to bring about a resolution to the divided landscape.
Gonjuan said soccer had to be the winner in the next phase of development.
“Our playing population, boys and girls, men and women across the country must be the priority and football must reach out to them,” Gonjuan said.
“There is definitely lot more work that’s needs to be done to bring back the confidence of the general population including the business houses and government of this country from national, provincial and local levels.
“These stakeholders should see soccer as a genuine partner in developing this country rather than just being seen as a recreational activity.”
Gonjuan said the upcoming congress should provide the impetus to end the split among member associations and get all the affiliates to get their houses in order under PNGFA statutes.
The congress would also fulfil the requirements of the statutes in the vacancy of the president’s position with the election of the president of PNGFA to complete the term of this executive.
Fifa has endorsed the congress. Member association delegates will be informed of the itinerary soon to travel to Port Moresby.