Southern region U17 football festival underway in Port Moresby

By ISAAC LIRI
THE Southern region Under-17 Football Festival is a tournament aimed at unearthing potential national representatives.
This was mentioned by Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) general secretary Dimirit Mileng and PNG Football Supporters Club chairman Dr Miok Komolong yesterday at the launching of the tournament at the Bisini Football grounds. Mileng acknowledged Port Moresby Soccer Association and the Port Moresby School Football Association for co-hosting the event which will end with the finals on Saturday.
Mileng encouraged all teams (eight men’s and six women’s) to promote fair play during the tournament.
“Our PNGFA coaching stuff will be looking out for potential footballers who have the skills and passion to strive further,” Mileng said.
“I encourage players to apply their skills, play fair, be considerate of others and respect decisions by the referees because that’s what football is all about.”
Komolong was inspired to see the players turn out in numbers and urged them to use football to become better citizens.
He said the club’s objective was to build the men’s and women’s national teams, with such tournament providing the platform for them to progress.
“Such tournaments build players to become national representatives,” Komolong said.
“I am sure a good number of future national representatives will come out from this tournament and that’s the mission of the club.”
Local organising committee chairman Joseph Ealedona said the tournament would promote Fifa’s anti-violence message.