By NOBERT KOKE
The Papua New Guinea Women’s National Soccer League is closing in with its first finals stage to be played in Lae, Morobe province on March 13, 2021.
This weekend will be the last round for both conferences after having reached the end of its conference stage or the normal competition rounds.
According to competition director Paul Isorua, both conferences will proceed to the final qualification stage with the league winner (1st place) and the runner up (2nd place team) playing each other in a crisscross final format.
Isorua said the Southern conference league winner will play the Northern conference 1st runner up and the Northern conference league winner will play the Southern Conference 1st runner up. Both matches are expected to be hosted at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium in Lae.
Winners of both semi-final matches will proceed to play the grand final while losers will play-off in the third and fourth placing a week later in Port Moresby.
Isorua announced that the WNSL competition and standing committee have recognised players who have been performing exceptionally well throughout the season and they will be rewarded during the grand final medal presentation in all categories best backs, forwards, most improved player, best and fairest player, team of the year, golden boot etc…
He said the presentation of awards to players and teams from Southern conference will be done separately, likewise for the Northern conference but only during the grand final day.
He acknowledged world football body, FIFA for its strong support to women’s soccer football in the country and for its sponsorship to PNG Women’s NSL.
Isorua also thanked the family of sponsors namely Bmobile PNG and City Pharmacy Limited for supporting the women’s competition all through the year.
PNGFA President John Kapi Natto said it has been a success for Women’s NSL only in its initial year and commended Isorua and his team, including the standing committee for their hard work in ensuring that women football is played at the national level.
Kapi Natto thanked the family of sponsors in Bmobile PNG and CPL for their undying support and also to FIFA for making available a huge funding of US$500,000.00 (K1.7m) to support women’s NSL in PNG.
The PNGFA President said only three countries in the Oceania region are playing women’s national competition which is PNG, Solomon Islands and Tahiti apart from New Zealand, therefore FIFA has come good to support PNG Women’s NSL.
Mr Kapi Natto announced that K80, 000.00 will be made available during the grand final as cash price for the first, second, third and fourth placing.
Meanwhile, according to the current standing of the Women’s NSL ladder for the Southern Conference, Genesis FC sits on top of the ladder ahead of NCD Hekari United.
For the Northern Conference, Sepik FC is on second with few points behind Poro FC who are currently topping the ladder.
