By Dinnierose Raiko- EMTV Sports, Port Moresby
National Soccer League team, Madang Football club, the second PNG football team in the OFC Champions League are looking at the risk of losing their OFC spot and facing repercussions of a hefty fine, if they do not make it to New Zealand in time to compete.
Madang FC Chairman, Dr Miok Komolong, says they will need funding close to K100,000 in order to make their campaign possible.
With OFC Champions League Pool C matches set to kick off on February 25, the clock is ticking for Madang FC to pull together enough funds to make it in time for the matches in New Zealand.
Chairman Dr Komolong is now making a general appeal to interested sponsors to help keep this PNG team in the OFC.
“Basically, we need to pay for our own way tickets now, so that would require us to raise K30, 000 to K40, 000, to pay for our tickets there and back. That’s the immediate funding requirement we need. That’s apart from the living expenses in New Zealand which would require another would bring the amount required to almost K100, 000, for us to travel this Friday,” said Dr Komolong.
With a not-so-ideal date that is set two days from now, MFC has only tomorrow to go before they can be sure if they can make it to New Zealand.
Port Moresby School Football Association and the PNG Football Supporters club have come on board with support but MFC still needs all the help they can get.
Port Moresby Schools Football Association Chairman John Mogi said, “For Schools Football, it’s a good opportunity for us to show that football is not just about ourselves, but it is about everybody, and it’s about the nation. We are keen to get our young kids to represent the country and so it is important that, when we see needs, we need to step in and support”.
Fundraising drives carried out by MFC with the help of the School boys football club has raised some funds but it is still not enough to get the team to New Zealand and back.
PNG Football Supporters’ Club member Wesley Waiwai reiterated, “The important message is that we need to rally the support. We are doing this for the nation and the future of football. We need to set a strong foundation in order to bring stronger competition to the OFC and eventually the FIFA World Cup”.
For business houses and individuals that would like to contribute to MFC’s successful attendance of the OFC matches and campaign, you can contribute to the team’s funds via this account.
DERRIMUT INVESTMENT LIMITED
BSP BRANCH # 088 – 943
ACC # 1011 178399
PNG Football Supporters Club President Joseph Ealedona added, “We are appealing to football fans throughout Papua New Guinea to assist our team (MFC), send them to New Zealand. It is important for PNG because if Madang doesn’t go, we automatically loss our second spot for the OFC. That is detrimental to football in PNG and that will affect the competition in the NSL this season, if our second team does not make it.”
For now, the team continues training while awaiting their fate.
