Taylor says clubs must get tough on alcohol

By HENRY MORABANG
THE Super League, is calling on its affiliated clubs to take the lead in the development of their young footballers both on and off the field.
The chairman of the Super League Cup Wayne Taylor made this comment following a road accident in which a vehicle carrying three players from Etsu Mungkas FC hit a pedestrian.
Taylor, who founded the POM School of Excellence (POMSOE), took the lead when off-loading some senior and junior players, who did not want to abide by their club rules, namely their zero tolerance on alcohol.
Taylor stressed that clubs had a responsibility to address drinking and should not tolerate players – both men and women – openly indulging in such behaviour.
He said POMSOE was hard on undisciplined players.
The club has already suspended the PNG U23 player John Ray for the remainder of the season for consuming alcohol last Saturday before their game on Sunday.
The club also off-loaded young Ayrton Yagas to University after he failed to learn from his two suspensions last year relating to alcohol.
Taylor said as a responsible manager, it was his duty to ensure all registered players followed club rules, and acted accordingly on and off the field.
He said Super League competition did not have room for such unethical behaviour.
He warned that if players in other clubs were caught drunk or behaving disorderly, their clubs would be fined or terminated from the competition.
Meanwhile, Port Moresby Soccer Association president Russell Tsuga refuted media reports that there was a fatality relating to the crash over the weekend. 
He said the injured pedestrian  had not died as reported but the three players were in a critical condition after by-standers assaulted them in retaliation.
Tsuga has asked the media to respect the wishes of the families of the injured and not to publish reports as the matter was now subject to a police investigation.