Something needs to be done about PNG’s soccer saga

LET me ponder on the ongoing soccer saga in Papua New Guinea.
Soccer was introduced to PNG more than 50 years ago and is a world game that is bigger than any individual and deserves a higher accord.
But the ongoing soccer saga continues to obstruct and deprive the development of soccer in PNG.
So far there are 12 affiliated associations outside the cold and they are regrouping to endorse a rival association to meet the continuation and growth of grassroots soccer in PNG.
Though they were only flagged for suspensions and the 12 affiliated associations have the opportunity for re-entry, almost all of them are dissatisfied with the unfair  and unethical treatment of dissent voice among the PNGFA affiliates.
There is evidence that most of the affiliated football associations in the country have problems with regard to proper administration and the  ational Soccer League (NSL) is not folding its sleeves to get the code up to standard.
The disorganisation of the affiliated soccer associations, and the suspensions of the 12 associations is obviously top-down effects and the NSL should shoulder the blame rather passing the buck on individual associations.
It is the role of the NSL to set standards, do surveillance, inspect and monitor the activities of all the affiliated soccer associations from time to time to ensure that the necessary administrative support is provided and that the development of the code is progressive and not obstructed or deprived.
However, for NSL to go ahead and suspend its affiliated soccer associations on the grounds of poor or lack of proper administration, is a slap on the face of the struggling affiliated soccer associations.
Also, imposing the suspensions leading up to an annual general meeting (AGM) is a divide rule tactic and largely unfair and unethical so far as all the affiliated soccer associations in the country and the development of the code are concerned.
At an AGM, important agendas will be tabled and should any required actions arise, it is only fair and appropriate for the NSL to effect those actions on or after and not before the AGM to maintain the status quo.
According to Article 25 of the NSL statute, a quorum of 50 plus 1 should be present in an AGM but this is only an artificial estimate because in reality the NSL is made up of numerical affiliated football associations which if added together will equal 100 and it is insufficient for only a percentage of the total to conduct an AGM otherwise presumed sufficient by a special clause.
Therefore, the action taken by the previous NSL executives to suspend the 12 affiliated soccer associations leading up to the recent AGM leaves a lot of rooms for the legality of the executive decisions and the AGM, proper administration of NSL and fair and ethical practice in the name of the code and this is sending a wrong signal which is causing a bum’s rush.
Now it is only appropriate for a re-election without suspension or else the Sports Minister should appoint a special tribunal to look into and clean up the smelly rot for the name of the code in Papua New Guinea.

Blue Laker’s, Via email