OFC News

New NSL Deadline

The National Soccer League (NSL) Board have extended their affiliation deadline from yesterday to June 16 to allow two more franchises to join the competition.

NSL chairman John Kapi Natto yesterday said the board relaxed the deadline to allow Madang and the second team from Lae to finalise their franchise arrangement.

"We will only defer the affiliation to June 16 and whether they join or not, NSL will go ahead with their competition," he said.

Natto said he was optimistic that he would have full six teams taking part in the competition before June 16. Four franchise teams are ready to kick off the NSL competition - Welgris Momads of Mt Hagen, PRK Souths of Port Moresby, Port Moresby Hills and Tuguba Laitepo Blue Kumuls of Lae.

Natto said the first deadline lapsed yesterday but was extended to allow the two teams to finalise their arrangement.

Natto believed that the semi professional league is the way to raise the standard of football in PNG.

He appealed to all stakeholders of the game to back the NSL franchise competition.

He urged the clubs where NSL teams are based to support and release their top players to be part of the semi-professional soccer competition.

"I am appealing to all the clubs to support their franchise teams in their respective areas and ensure the competition is played in a true spirit of sportsmanship and fair play," he said.

Natto said some clubs were reluctant to release their players to be part of the franchise teams. However, he said, it was up to the players if they want to earn a living by playing soccer in NSL.