Tickets for soccer internationals go on sale, Tkatchenko urges support

 By HENRY MORABANG
SPORTS Minister Justin Tkatchenko urged soccer fans in Port Moresby to get behind the senior men’s and the Under-20 women’s football teams by turning up in big numbers to watch their games.
He made the comment when launching the tickets for the three key soccer fixtures which will go on sale at Big Rooster outlets today.
Tkatchenko said PNG had achieved much  hosting and winning last year’s Pacific Games and was now hosting the OFC Nations Cup, which the country had to win to qualify for the Confederation Cup in Russia next year.
Tkatchenko said football fans would be treated with a football festival during the OFC Nations Cup, the U20 women tri-nation international friendlies and the senior men’s international against Malaysia.
The football festival will get underway on May 24 and continue right through June 17.
The U20 international friendly matches against Japan and the US are important as lead-up games to the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in November.
Both countries will arrive at the end of this month.
All matches will be being held at Sir John Guise Stadium, with ticket prices ranging from K10 for the outer stands and K30 for the grandstand.
He thanked Big Rooster for coming on board in a public-private partnership to sell the tickets.
The fast-food’s managing director Salim Chamadu said he was happy of the partnership with football.
He called on soccer fans to purchase tickets.
OFC president and PNGFA president David Chung said the objective was to make the tickets affordable for as many people as possible.
“We want to see the stands full so having two affordable price options is an opportunity for fans.”