NCDFA into Semi-Finals

The National Capital District Football Association (NCDFA) has resumed its Semi-Final games on Saturday, January 27th, at PNG Football Stadium in Port Moresby, after a two-week hiatus due to the civil unrest.

Top-four teams have been selected in each division – ranging from U15, U17, U19, U23 and Seniors. The winners will advance to grand final and the losers will bow out.

The semi-final games were supposed to be played two weeks ago, but because of the civil unrest and subsequent State of Emergency being imposed by the government, the semi-finals had been postponed to January 27 and 28.

NCDFA President and Hekari United FC General Manager, Vonnie Kapi Natto, said despite the games being disrupted, they’ve managed to resume the games and were about to end the season in a week’s time.

“Our season was supposed to be completed a week ago but because of the SoE, we couldn’t predict whether the season would finish in two weeks or extend it, so our executives decided to move the games to today (January 27),” President Natto said.

“Everyone agreed; all the clubs agreed to it, so today (January 27) is our first semi-finals. Grand finals for all divisions will be on Sunday, February 4th.”

Mrs. Natto was impressed with the talents, but said other associations in the country needed to invest more into their junior academies to be on par with NCDFA.

“I am very impressed with the talents but if you can see, we (NCDFA) are the only association in the country that has U15, U17, U19, U23 and senior teams,” she stressed.

“Looking at all these great talents, it’s a big challenge for the players. Are they going to do something for the youths or let their talents go to waste?

“I’m challenging them to have a look at these talents, because we can’t just let them waste their talents. We need them or the country needs them and so, we must utilize their talents.”

Meanwhile, the placings for third and fourth will be played on Saturday, February 3rd, while the Grand Finals for every division will be held on Sunday, February 4th, at PNG Football Stadium.