After a successful visitation to Papua New Guinea last week, Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) can confirm the Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) is on track to benefit from the FIFA-funded Win in Oceania (WIO) Program.
The US$8million initiative, which launched in January 2009, aims to assist OFC Member Associations (MAs) in boosting national competitions, improving infrastructure and medical procedures, strengthening administration and communications as well as developing futsal and beach soccer competitions.
While most MAs have started their applications, progress has been slow for PNGFA due to recent legal proceedings involving former PNGFA Vice President Seth Daniels.
PNG has been allocated a budget of PGK 1.28 million over the next two years to assist the 22 internal member associations with developing the game specifically in their region.
On 13 May, the OFC Disciplinary Committee handed Daniels a three-year ban from football activity for breaching FIFA, OFC and PNGFA statutes and it is only since then that PNGFA has been able to focus on the WIO program.
Tai Nicholas, OFC General Secretary, is confident PNGFA President David Chung and his team are now in a strong position to make the most of FIFA and OFC programs.
“The WIO funding provides an opportunity for PNGFA to implement new initiatives that will leave a legacy for football in Papua New Guinea,” says Nicholas.
“David Chung and his Executive Committee continue to have the full support of FIFA and OFC as he leads the PNGFA through this exciting and challenging period of development.”
WIO Deputy Senior Project Manager Billy Vaitoare met with PNGFA CEO Dimirit Mileng and Consultant David Brand last week to discuss the project in detail and begin the process of applications.
After a thorough assessment, Vaitoare believes the PNGFA is capable of overseeing the successful delivery of the project.
“Last week’s meetings were very encouraging,” said Vaitoare. “They not only helped to establish the long term strategy for PNGFA but also identified potential partners who can support the new initiatives.”
FIFA and OFC will conduct a workshop in Port Moresby with all 22 member associations in August 2009 to discuss how the Win in Oceania funding will be distributed directly to the 22 member associations.
As a follow up to the Seth Daniel saga, the OFC Executive Committee at their meeting on 1 June 2009 has been advised that Seth Daniel continues to defy the OFC Disciplinary Committee ban on football activity by placing advertisements in the local newspapers and misrepresenting himself as Acting President of the PNGFA.
The OFC Disciplinary Committee will now open a new disciplinary case against Seth Daniel.
“We would ask all the football community in Papua New Guinea to ignore any message or instructions made by Seth Daniel.
He has no legal standing within PNGFA nor with FIFA, OFC does not recognise him or any of his supporters and they will have no entitlement to Win in Oceania or any other FIFA and OFC funding if they continue to associate themselves with Seth Daniels” Nicholas said.
“Seth Daniel will now be charged, once again, under the OFC Disciplinary Code for forgery and falsification under Article 59 where it states that anyone who, during any football related activity…, makes a false claim in a document with potentially legal repercussions …, will be sanctioned …, if the perpetrator is an official, and found guilty he could face a further ban for a period of at least twelve (12) months and a minimum fine of NZD 1,000” Nicholas told the Executive Committee.