Lae City demand answers from PNGFA after travel chaos derails Hekari United fixture

Lae City FC have called on the Papua New Guinea Football Association for clarification after their outstanding Premier Soccer League fixture against Hekari United failed to go ahead, with the club describing serious communication and travel problems surrounding the rearranged match.

The reigning PNG champions were expected to travel from Lae to Port Moresby to fulfil one of the several matches still outstanding from their domestic campaign. However, according to a statement issued by club president Edwin Rumbam, Lae City players and officials arrived at Nadzab Tomodachi Airport only to discover that six members of their playing squad had been booked onto a separate PNG Air flight, while the remainder of the travelling party had been checked in with Air Niugini.The situation was particularly problematic because three of the six players separated from the main group were Lae City’s registered goalkeepers.

“This created an immediate logistical problem for the club, particularly because three of the six players booked on the PNG Air flight are our registered goalkeepers,” Rumbam said.

The disagreement also involves the scheduling of the fixture itself. Lae City say they had understood their next outstanding match would be against Port Moresby Strikers, before subsequently being informed that Hekari United would be their opponent instead. According to the club, the alteration was apparently connected to Hekari’s involvement in the MSG Prime Minister’s Cup.Lae City stressed that their objection is not to facing Hekari, but to the way the rearrangement and travel arrangements were communicated.

“Our concern is not about playing Hekari United FC. We are ready to play our football and fulfil our obligations,” the club stated.The episode comes amid an unusually demanding period for Lae City. After competing at the 2026 OFC Men’s Champions League in Fiji, seven of their players were selected for Papua New Guinea’s U-19 national team and travelled to Samoa only two days after returning from the continental competition. Those players did not return to Lae before joining the national side, forcing the club to continue its domestic programme without them.

Lae City say their Round 12 match against NCD FC on 29 July was their final league fixture before departing for the OFC Champions League. A large portion of their remaining regular-season programme subsequently had to be accommodated through outstanding fixtures.

The club had already completed rearranged matches against FC Morobe Wawens and Admiralty FC, but several fixtures remained to be played as Lae City attempted to catch up with a domestic schedule heavily disrupted by their continental and international commitments.

That context is central to the club’s complaint. Lae City insist they have continued to release players for PNG national-team duty and attempted to fulfil their PSL obligations despite the difficult calendar. What they are now seeking from PNGFA is clearer communication over when and how the remaining matches will be staged.

“All we are asking for is clear communication, proper coordination and a fair opportunity to play our remaining matches,” Rumbam said.

The case highlights another challenge facing Papua New Guinea’s domestic competition in 2026. Clubs involved in OFC competitions and supplying significant numbers of players to national teams have had to balance multiple commitments, while postponed league fixtures have created additional pressure later in the season.

For Lae City, the immediate question is now what happens to the unplayed Hekari United fixture and how PNGFA will organise the club’s remaining matches. The champions have made clear that they intend to complete their Premier Soccer League campaign — but want the logistical conditions to allow them to actually do so.