Chronicles of PNG Football Chaos: Scheduling blunder adds to season of controversies in National Premier Soccer League

In yet another unfortunate incident, the Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) and the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) board have once again displayed a lack of organization and professionalism, causing disruption and frustration for teams and fans alike. Gulf Komara, a team participating in the league, recently highlighted a blunder made by the NPSL/PNGFA office that resulted in a scheduling mishap.

Gulf Komara, through its official social media account, revealed that they were unable to board their intended flight to Lae for a scheduled match against Morobe Wawens FC. The reason cited was a booking error committed by the NPSL/PNGFA office. The team was erroneously booked to travel on Sunday, rather than the correct day, which was Saturday – the day the match was originally scheduled. This oversight not only reflects poorly on the administrative competence of the league organizers but also disrupts the overall flow of the tournament.

However, Gulf Komara later provided an update on the same post, indicating that the issue had been resolved, and they were now confirmed to travel to Lae on Sunday, August 12th. The match against Morobe Wawens FC was set to take place at 3 pm on the same day – the match ended up in a 1-1 draw at Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium, Lae. Despite this glaring scheduling error and its subsequent rectification, neither the PNGFA nor the NPSL board issued any official statements or comments in response to the incident.

This mishap is unfortunately not an isolated incident within the context of the ongoing NPSL season. The league has been marred by a series of controversies and problems that have contributed to an overall sense of disarray. One notable instance was the controversial inclusion of defending champions Lae City FC, who lost their main sponsor mere weeks before the start of the tournament. This eleventh-hour decision to include a team raised questions about the fairness and transparency of the league’s decision-making processes. Ian Chow, the former sponsor of Lae City, decided to pull out his support to the seven-time national champions due alleged unfair treatment of his team in favour of Hekari United, team linked to PNG Football Association’s president John Kappi-Nato. Lae City managed to get last-minute sponsor that kept them able to pay the fess requested to participate in the national league.

Furthermore, the start of the season was plagued by a number of delays, casting doubts on the league’s ability to maintain a structured and timely schedule. The lack of effective marketing and information dissemination surrounding the games added another layer of frustration for the local football community and fans, who found it difficult to keep track of fixtures and events.

These recurring issues reflect a systemic problem within the PNGFA and the NPSL board, raising concerns about their capacity to manage a professional football league effectively. The absence of prompt and transparent communication in response to blunders such as the scheduling mishap involving Gulf Komara only serves to exacerbate the frustrations of both teams and fans.

In order to restore credibility and promote the growth of football in Papua New Guinea, it is imperative for the league organizers to address these issues promptly, implement transparent decision-making processes, and enhance their organizational and communication capabilities. Only through such efforts can the NPSL hope to regain the trust of stakeholders and foster a more successful and harmonious footballing environment for all involved.