PORT MORESBY, 17 DECEMBER 2018 (POST COURIER) – PNG Football Association president John Kapi Natto (pictured), who is also PNG Sports Foundation deputy chairman, says he is committed to making the sport of soccer inclusive for all.
At the launch of a new National Soccer League franchise club Central United FC in Port Moresby at the weekend, Kapi Natto said it was in his vision to bring soccer down to the grassroots and village level and not just in major cities and provincial centres.
“In the past, we’ve seen soccer only managed and played in places like Port Moresby, Lae and Madang. Now we want to move the sport into other smaller areas like up in the Highlands, New Guinea Islands and of course smaller centres such as Wewak, Alotau, Tabubil and Kokopo where I understand there is a lot of interest,” Natto said, after arriving from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates where he attended the FIFA Summit.
“This is the same message I got from FIFA, they want football to be inclusive regardless of our status.”
He said said he is determined to make the sport of soccer popular and bring NSL to the next level, announcing that he has called on the support of world governing body FIFA to send a technical team to PNG soon to undertake a study in the hope introducing a professional League in within a year or two to bring the game to the world stage.
“FIFA is prepared to assign technical experts in the area of marketing early next year to help PNGFA in its plans to introduce a pro league so that we can improve our standards and try to be competitive not only in Oceania but also other parts of the world like Asia.
In order to do this, Kapi Natto has called for more corporate and government backing as this would set the scene for PNG to vie for a place should FIFA member countries vote for an increase in the number of qualifiers from the current 36 to 48 in the 2020 Qatar World Cup or in 2026.
“Soon I will be signing an MOU with several provincial governors as I look to our political and business leaders to take ownership in supporting the game by way providing infrastructure and promoting football in their respective towns and centre,” Kapi Natto said.
He launched the franchise bid for Central United FC during its fundraising dinner at the Gateway Hotel last Friday evening, also attended by deputy provincial administrator for Central Province Edward Kila, Mrs Vonnie Kapi Natto, general manager of Hekari club and who is also NCD Public Servants Soccer Association president.
Central United FC, run by co-owners of the franchise Morea Vavine and Kamo Kini, is set to enter the race alongside Hekari United FC, Port Moresby Soccer Association along with other teams in the Southern Conference leg of the 2019 NSL competition which starts on January 19.
“It’s not that easy to assemble rural based teams and get them up to another notch – like at the NSL level. But one thing is for sure, that those of us behind this move are equally determined and inspired by Central’s long absence from the national soccer scene. Hence, this is to set a pathway for the rest of Central people, especially the young school aged level to make it to the top,” Kini said.
He said Central Province had seen some star players who previously donned the national colours and made a name for themselves which “we can all be very proud of their achievements and the likes of the great Manis Lamond (Tubusereia), Maino Kwalimu of Kamali, Koupa’s Kema Jack and Leslie Kalai, and of course Papaka’s duo of David Aua and Gure Gabina and not so long ago Kolu Kepo from Kalo, and Patrick Aisa whom I understand originates from Kairuku.”
Koupa Soccer Association president Morea Vavine said the new franchise club will recruit top players from within all corners of the province to make it competitive to be a force in NSL in the coming years. He appealed to all other associations to work with him and Kini to promote the game in Central Province.
“This team is the flagship of the people of Central and we expect everyone to join in support us in this new and exciting venture.”
Central United FC received pledges of up to K30,000 (US$12,925) from individuals, companies and Central provincial administration during the fundraising dinner last Friday.
