By CHARLIE DUMAVI
PAPUA New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) will be facing the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Ethics and Disciplinary Committee for breach of regulations.
OFC confirmed in a statement published on its official Facebook page today (Thursday 7th September 2023).
OFC stated that PNG and Samoa have withdrawn from the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship, that was scheduled to be played from September 13-30 2023, in Tahiti.
Therefore, inline with the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship 2023 Regulations, PNGFA and Football Federation Samoa (FFS) will be referred to the OFC Ethics and Disciplinary Committee.
PNGFA general secretary Mr Godon Manub, however, told Sunday Bulletin that PNG is not sending a team due to financial constrain.
He said it is too expensive for PNGFA meet all the coast of sending a team to stay and compete in Tahiti.
“Our team did not make it basically because it is too expensive to get to Tahiti from PNG,” Mr Manub said.
“The cost of the air fares, accommodation and the up keep of the players is expensive.
“We just sent a team to New Zealand (U23 men’s); however, sending another one over there (Tahiti) will be difficult for us to look after the team financially.
“It will be very expensive living in there. The cost is the reason why we have to withdraw.”
Given the withdrawal, the OFC Executive Committee has approved the change of format and redraw of the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship featuring eight teams.
The teams will be drawn tomorrow (Friday September 8, 2023) into two groups of four teams.
Secretary Manub added that PNGFA really need to find financial support from other interested organization to support the teams to such competitions outside of the country in the future.
He said this issue is unfortunate because PNGFA could not meet the cost and therefore, any financial support from partners will be appreciated.
“Travelling around the region is expensive,” Mr Manub said.
“The countries near us are cheap but when you start to go a bit further away the cost gets expend.
“We got to look at support we can get from stakeholders in the country.
“We are finding ways to get corporate companies and everyone who can come on board and support but you know we are not the only sport in country. Everybody (sport) travels and needs supports.”
Meanwhile, Mr Manub confirmed that PNGFA’s men’s and women’s team to Pacific Games in Solomon Islands have been finalized and submitted to the Olympic Committee for justification.