PORT MORESBY – Kila Kila and Jubilee Secondary schools, Badiagwa and Gordon head will chase secondary school football glory when the four teams contest the Grand Final of the Boys’ and Girls’ National Capital District Secondary School Soccer League (NCDSSSL) competition in Port Moresby this week.
Kila Kila and Jubilee will contest the NCDSSSL Boy’s Grand Final with Badiagwa and Gordon to meet to decide the Girls’.
"This year was the first season of the schools league and it was very good to see more secondary and high school students in Port Moresby participating," Niebo said.
The popularity of football in Papua New Guinea has lifted, particularly amongst women, following on from this year’s brave showing by the international women’s side in the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament against New Zealand.
The match was the first live television broadcast of a women’s international football match in Papua New Guinea’s history.
Despite losing 0-2 to the New Zealand Football Ferns, the impact of the Papua New Guinea women’s team performance and telecast of the match has combined to draw more girls into football.
Papua New Guinea’s women’s team also won the XIII South Pacific Games gold medal in Apia last year.
In the Girls’ competition, Badiagwa secondary won a pool containing Gerehu, POM Grammar and Gordon Secondary schools.
The teams then split into twom semi-final showdowns.
Badiagwa’s pedigree shone through with a 2-0 win over Gordon in one, as Gerehu Secondary edged POM Grammar 2-0 in the other semi-final.
The boys final will be contested by Gordon and Badiagwa Secondaries while Kilakila and Jubilee Secondaries will contest the third place playoff.
Both Grand Finals will be played next Wednesday 24 September, 2008.
Niebo said the next season will be much bigger with more teams expected in both boys’ and girls’ competitions.
A raft of sponsors helped make the inaugural schools competition a big succes, Niebo said.
"We had great support from Joshua Seriba of SES Limited, John Kapi Natto of Hekari Group Limited and Joe Ealadona of NBC as sponsors of the league this year," Niebo said.
"This competition is a big league in its own right. We’ve aimed at creating more opportunities for youngsters to play football and develop their skills and talents and without the tireless efforts of the competition committee, our wonderful sponsors and the tournament officials, we may not have had such outstanding success."
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NCDSSSL Grand Final Boys
Wednesday 24 September, 2008
Gordon Secondary School vs. Badiagwa Secondary
NCDSSSL Grand Final Girls
Wednesday 24 September, 2008
Badiagwa vs. Gerehu