Tavur set for return to NSL

 THE West New Britain Tavur are drumming up support in their bid to re-enter the Telikom National Soccer league in 2015.

Tavur FC chairman Bernard Maliao confirmed from Kimbe yesterday that ground work was being done to lure business houses and the provincial government to support the franchise in the semi-professional competition. The team have been quietly training under former South Korean international Seon Woo Park – with the Original FC of Buluma on the Kimbe-Hoskins highway.

If the Tavur are re-admitted they would be the second New Guinea Islands team in the league – the other is Admiralty of Manus.

Maliao thanked long time Kimbe resident and South Korean businessman Meung Kyu Kim for supporting football in the province.

Kim is the owner of Pumba Bye & Bye and Family Mart Shop in Kimbe. Maliao said they were also looking at the other option of getting the region’s provincial governments to pool their resources together to field one team. 

With two soccer academies taking shape in Kimbe and Central Bougainville, Maliao urged all stakeholders  the region to work for the good of the sport.

The NSL concept has proven successful in player development especially providing an alternative career pathway for unemployed youths in towns and cities.

PNGFA competition manager Simon Koima said the process in getting expressions of interest (EOI) forms in had been slow. As of yesterday, only two intending franchise had collected their EOI forms while others had yet to make contact with his office.

There are five spots for the Southern region while Northern region had three spots available.

Teams: Southern – Hekari United, Admiralty, Oro, Port Moresby; Northern – Besta United, Lae City Dwellers, Madang.