Transcript
JOHN WESLEY GONJUAN: We sympathise with the players that are caught between this situation but as an association, as the legal body in Papua New Guinea we need to uphold the constitution of the PNGFA, OFC and FIFA and that is why we are together with OFC in terms the discipline that has been taken. In terms of the football politics that we saw last week, this would help us calm down the situation in terms of Hekari going on and speculating on creating new associations which will have the right to affiliate to OFC and FIFA.
KORO VAKA'UTA: Is it a problem with Hekari or just the Hekari Chair, John Kapi Natto?
JWG: The problem is with both. The chairman of Hekari, John Kapi Natto, is in the process of forming a second association and with regards to the club itself, they have denied the right or they've got the players to boycott participation in the national team training camp. About nine players were called in to be part of the training camp. Unfortunately the club didn't allow the players or let them take up their national duties.
KV: What message do you think this sends? This disqualification, it seems quite strong, what's the message you hope that it sends?
JWG: Well the message is; FIFA is the global body of football, the global sport. In terms of their representative it's in our region the OFC and in PNG it's the Papua New Guinea Football Association and it's pertinent as a club and as an administrator in football they need to respect the regulations and the status of the PNGFA and also the OFC. The PNGFA is the governing body in Papua New Guinea and they should be working closely with the PNGFA rather than going and spreading negative information about the PNGFA and influencing other member associations to form a second association. On top of that, they are informing other member associations that once they form the association, OFC and FIFA will give them the right to be a second association in the country, which is not correct.
KV: You sound like you are quite confident that his move, this latest development will quash that support for the alternative association.
JWG: There will be different feelings for it but as the governing body we need to take a stand and we should look at eliminating such offences like that.
PNG Football Association Vice President John Wesley Gonjuan.
