By Gabriel Katuho
THE Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) has appointed former Solomon Islands Men’s National Football Team Head Coach Filipe Vega-Arango as the new head coach of the Kapuls.
This decision follows the termination of former Kapuls Head Coach Warren Moon by the PNGFA Executive Committee after Moon failed to comply with their directives.
PNGFA President John Kapi Natto announced during a press conference that the primary reason for Coach Moon’s suspension was his refusal to relocate to Papua New Guinea to coach the team.
“The reason we made that decision with the executive committee members is that we have asked Warren to come and live in Papua New Guinea and closely asses the players. We do not want him to stay in Australia, just fly in visit the team go back to Australia and doing that,” Kapi Natto said.
Kapi Natto added that PNGFA is seeking a long-term contract with a coach who can reside in the country and work closely with the players.
Vega-Arango, a Spaniard, will also help develop the technical department while leading the PNG Men’s National Football Team. During his six-year tenure as head coach of the Solomon Islands, he elevated the team’s FIFA ranking from 177/178 to 130.
“In the last six years he has developed the best national team for the Solomon Islands. If you look at the ranking now, Solomon ranks second to New Zealand. So, we thought that he is the best candidate we can bring him in,” Kapi Natto said.
“He knows the culture and people in here so we have offered him a position of coming here and staying on a long term and developing a proper technical strategic plan for our PNGFA going forward,” He added.
Kapi Natto clarified that PNGFA operates like any other business organization, governed by a constitution and a Board that makes decisions based on the performance and status of the team for the betterment of football in the country.
The new head coach is expected to arrive in the country next week and will take charge of preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers for the Oceania Zone.
