Papua New Guinea ends the 2024 football year on a high note after the recent performance of the Kapuls at the Melanesian Spearhead Group Prime Minister’s Cup hosted in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
The team, led by rookie coach, David Muta and veteran skipper Alwin Komolong, had reclaimed the 2024 MSG Cup after defeating the Solomon Islands National Team, its Development team, and Vanuatu and drew against Fiji to claim 10 points overall.
Prior to this success, the national team (PNG Kapuls) suffered a huge loss at the PNG Football Stadium in November after hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026 Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Qualifiers Group A remaining matches.
The national team almost won their match against Fiji, but drew 3-all before losing 2-1 against the Solomon Islands. Their first group match was played in Fiji, where they lost to New Caledonia in October. NCL and Fiji have qualified for the semi-finals now set for March 2025 in Auckland against Tahiti and New Zealand.
Meanwhile, the Men's Premier Soccer League unleashed surprises as underdogs, the United Highlands FC were deemed the dark horses of the competition, despite finishing fifth overall. The Port Moresby Strikers, Lae City FC, Lae City Dwellers, and FC Morobe Wawens had new player inclusions, while Manus (Admiralty FC) brought their best to compete. Gulf Komara made their grand final debut against the undefeated Hekari United FC, despite a 2-1 loss at the PNG Football Stadium.
Hekari United were also this year’s PNG representative at the OFC Champions League and will return for another edition next year. The current champions are the Auckland FC of New Zealand.
This year, PNG also made history when the national association sent the Moukele Beach Soccer Association (MBSA) team as ‘PNG Paewas’ to represent the country at the 2024 OFC Beach Soccer Men’s Nations Cup in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
A first pilot project from Fisherman Island, the Paewas did not disappoint when they scored the fastest goal through defender Demasol Manama, deemed to be the fastest in international beach soccer history. PNG stunned the Oceania football community when they defeated an experienced Fiji side 8-6 in the opening match.
Additionally, the Women’s Conference Soccer League had just kicked off recently in four regions to be in line with the OFC-sanctioned tournaments by 2025; this includes the OFC Women’s Nations Cup in Fiji, followed by the OFC Women’s Champions League in Tahiti. Local competition finals should reach finals by early February 2025.
Hekari United FC Women are the defending champions hoping for a third OFC WCL appearance next year. They were the runners-up in 2023 against the ASA Feminine Academy (New Caledonia) on home soil, and in 2024 against Auckland United (New Zealand).
In the junior competitions, the U17 Boys National Youth Soccer League (NYSL) kicked off in three conferences (Southern-Port Moresby; Northern-Lae; & NGI-Eastern-Buka) in September and will soon reach finals. This year, the national body also sent the U16 girls national team who competed in the OFC U16 Women’s Championship Qualifiers in Auckland, New Zealand, in June.
The U19 national team departed the country a month after to compete in the U19 Men's Championships in Apia, Samoa.
Administratively, PNGFA’s Member associations have revolted President John Kapi-Natto into office for another four-year term. This also included new and existing regional presidents for their four regional offices among Executive Committee (ExCo) members. This follows after the association hosted its Elective Congress before the FIFA Qualifiers kick-off in Port Moresby.
Meanwhile, the OFC has confirmed that the Pro-League is a go with PNG already raising its hand to put a team together and compete in the upcoming professional competitions in 2025 and beyond.
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