World Footy News

This year marks a new era for Aussies rules in Papua New Guinea as the AFLPNG and AFLNCD (National Capital District comprising the region around PNG’s capital of Port Moresby) have met to discuss various issues affecting AFL in PNG and how best they can manage the running of the sport, especially at the senior level.

Among the issues raised by the AFLNCD chairman Veari Maha and AFL PNG representatives Walter Yagomina and AFL development manager for Asia Pacific region Andrew Cadzow were conducting courses for umpires and the competition at the senior level.

AFLPNG has agreed that players at the senior level competition will be selected to undergo training in umpiring. The players selected should have been part of the PNG Mosquitoes side at one time or another.

Maha, and his deputy Matthew Pula, have also indicated that clubs in the AFLNCD competition needed some funding from the national body to buy jumpers and other essentials to participate in the local competition.

However, this will only eventuate through counterpart funding, which will mean the clubs have to raise some funds and the AFLPNG will meet the balance to buy their jumpers and other sporting gear. This year’s competition will see West, University Tigers, Koboni, Dockers, Defence, Kokofa, Moresby and Ports Power.

With the Australian Government providing $4million for junior RL development, it can only be seen as opportune that a fully united AFL code is seen to be working together within the country.

For more, see this article from PNG's major newspaper The National.