2019 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League

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Papua New Guinea National Soccer League
Season2019
Dates26 January 2019 – 1 June 2019
ChampionsToti City FC (5th title)
OFC Champions LeagueToti City FC
Hekari United
← 2018

The 2019 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited National Soccer League,[1] was the 13th edition of Papua New Guinea National Soccer League, the top-tier football league in Papua New Guinea. It started on 26 January 2019.[2] Toti City F.C. were the defending champions.

The title was won by Toti City, who picked up their fifth title after defeating eight-time champions Hekari United in the final on penalties.[3]

Format[]

A brand new format for the competition was announced on 19 November 2018, with the league being split into the four regions of the country: Northern (Momase), Southern (Papua), Highlands and Islands.[4][5] Each league ran simultaneously, and the top two teams from each conference will qualify for the playoffs.[5]

In the quarter-finals, the conference winners played at home against the conference runners-up, with the Northern Conference teams drawn against those from the Highlands Conference, and the Southern Conference teams against those from the Islands Conference.[6] The winners proceeded to the semi-finals, with two home and away legs. The winning two sides proceeded to the Grand Final, with both teams then eligible to represent Papua New Guinea at the 2020 OFC Champions League.[4][5]

Teams[]

On 18 January 2019, 28 teams were confirmed as taking part.[7] This was reduced to 27 after Admiralty FC withdrew.[8]

Four teams returned following the 2018 season: champions Toti City FC, regular season runners-up FC Morobe Wawens, 2018 grand finalists Besta PNG United, and Southern Strikers, all except the latter being drawn into the Northern Conference. Following the league split, five teams returned to the NSL after at least two years' absence, including eight-time champions Hekari United, two-time runners-up Eastern Stars, former runners up and four-time third-placed Morobe United, and PRK Gulf Komara (previously Erema FC). Furthermore, three clubs who had taken part in the two editions of the breakaway National Premier League entered the NSL for the first time: 2017 Northern Conference champions Markham FC, Lahi FC and Laiwaden FC. The rest of the teams – sixteen in total, including all the teams in the Highlands and Islands Conference – were debutants.

Papua New Guinea National Soccer League 2019
Northern Conference
Team Previous Best Other Honours
Toti City FC 2015, 2015–16, 2017, 2018: Champions 2018 OFC Champions League: Quarter-Finalists
Morobe United FC 2009–10: Runners-Up 1998 National Club Championship: Runners-Up

2001, 2005 Lae Regional Championship: Champions

Besta PNG United 2018: Runners-Up None
FC Morobe Wawens 2018: 3rd None
Markham FC N/A 2017 National Premier League: Third Place
Lahi FC N/A None
Laiwaden FC N/A None
Tusbab Stallions N/A None
Southern Conference
Team Previous Best Other Honours
Hekari United 2006–14: Champions (8x) 2009–10 OFC Champions League: Champions

2017 National Premier League: Champions

2007 Port Moresby Premier League: Champions

Eastern Stars 2010–11, 2011–12: Runners-Up None
PRK Gulf Komara 2015–16: Southern Conference: 4th 2018 National Premier League: Champions
Southern Strikers 2018: 5th None
Star Mountain FC N/A 1999 North Fly District: Champions
Port Moresby United N/A None
Central United N/A None
FC Bougainville N/A None
Highlands Conference
Team Previous Best Other Honours
Blue Kumuls N/A 2005 National Club Championship: 4th
Aporo Mai FC N/A None
Enga Laima FC N/A None
Kagua Erave FC N/A None
Mt Hagen FC N/A None
Simbu Angra FC N/A None
Islands Conference
Team Previous Best Other Honours
West Tribe FC N/A None
Greengold Liners N/A None
Chebu AROB FC N/A None
Radazz FC N/A None
Gazelle FC N/A None
2019 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League is located in Papua New Guinea
Toti City Besta PNG United Lahi FC
Toti City
Besta PNG United
Lahi FC
Morobe United Morobe Wawens
Morobe United
Morobe Wawens
Laiwaden FC Tusbab Stallions
Laiwaden FC
Tusbab Stallions
Markham FC
Hekari United Southern Strikers Port Moresby United FC Bougainville
Hekari United
Southern Strikers
Port Moresby United
FC Bougainville
Eastern Stars
Eastern Stars
Gulf Komara
Gulf Komara
Star Mountain
Star Mountain
Central United
Central United
Blue Kumuls Mount Hagen FC
Blue Kumuls
Mount Hagen FC
Aporo Mai FC
Aporo Mai FC
Enga Laima FC
Enga Laima FC
Kagua-Erave FC
Kagua-Erave FC
Simbu Angra FC
Simbu Angra FC
Radazz FC Gazelle FC
Radazz FC
Gazelle FC
West Tribe FC
West Tribe FC
Greengold Liners
Greengold Liners
Chebu AROB FC
Chebu AROB FC
Locations of 2019 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League teams


Summary[]

The Southern Conference kicked off on 26 January 2019, the first of the four conferences to begin. Hekari United played their first NSL match for almost three years, winning 1–0 against debutants FC Bougainville, while there were opening day wins for debutants Central United and Port Moresby United.[9] Both of the latter started strongly before Central United faded, while Port Moresby United went into the mid-season break in second with 16 points, five behind leaders Hekari, who had won seven games from seven, and four ahead of Bougainville on 12. Gulf Komara and Central sat fourth and fifth on 10 points. Two-time runners-up Eastern Stars had struggled to find their feet upon their return to the league, losing three of their opening four games before a minor recovery saw them into the halfway point in sixth with nine points.[10]

It soon became clear that Hekari would be the runaway winners, while the battle for the second qualification spot was far less predictable. By mid-April, with three games to play, any of the sides from second to sixth could still clinch the second spot, although it was Port Moresby United who had retained the advantage, still sitting three points clear of Central United in third.[10] On 20 April, second-placed Port Moresby lost 4–1 to leaders Hekari, while Central were thrashed 6–2 by a resurgent Eastern Stars, thanks in part to four goals from ,[11] and by the final day, Central were out of contention completely following a 6–1 defeat to Port Moresby United on the penultimate week of fixtures. On the last day, Port Moresby United needed just a win against second-from-bottom Star Mountain to qualify behind Hekari, but they were held to a shock 3–3 draw, meaning the winner of Bougainville and Eastern Stars would clinch second spot. A late own goal decided the match 1–0 in Eastern Stars' favour, completing an excellent second half of the season for the Milne Bay side.[12]

The first half of the Northern Conference was disrupted slightly by Toti City and Morobe Wawens' participation in the 2019 OFC Champions League. Both sides were able to play their opening fixture alongside the rest of the teams, with Toti City winning 3–1 against Morobe United and Wawens suffering a narrow 4–3 defeat at the hands of Besta PNG United.[13] Both sides missed the next three rounds of fixtures, with Wawens dropping to the foot of the table and Toti to sixth as a result, with Morobe United leading the way having won their next three matches, including a narrow 1–0 win over current runners-up Besta PNG.[14] Toti soon recovered, however, and by the halfway stage, they were on top of the league with seven wins from seven. Morobe United looked certain to join them in the playoffs, sitting second on 18 points, with Laiwaden FC third with 10.[10]

A second-half-of-the-season surge from Besta PNG United almost threatened to disrupt the placings of the top two, with Besta winning all seven of their second-half fixtures, including a 1–0 win over Toti on 13 April, and a 3–2 victory over Morobe United the following weekend.[15] However, this was to be Toti's only defeat of the regular season, while Morobe did enough to hold off the advances of their rivals and qualify behind the reigning champions.[10][16]

The Highlands Conference kicked off on 10 February, with Aporo Mai taking the early lead following a 5–0 opening day victory over Enga Laima.[17] Laima suffered another heavy defeat the following weekend to Kagua-Erave, losing 11–1,[18] and Aporo Mai's 4–2 defeat to Blue Kumuls allowed Kagua-Erave to go top of the table. Five wins from five saw Kagua lead the way at the halfway stage, with Mount Hagen FC in second on 10 points, and Blue Kumuls in third on seven.[10]

On 23 March, Blue Kumuls defeated Mount Hagen 2–0, going level on points in second place and setting up a close race for the second playoff spot behind Kagua-Erave.[19] However, fourth-placed Aporo Mai threatened to upstage them both, inflicting a 1–0 defeat on previously undefeated Kagua-Erave the following weekend,[20] and securing a 2–1 victory over Blue Kumuls on the first weekend of April.[21] This left Aporo Mai four points behind Kumuls and Hagen with a game in hand and two weeks to go. However, a 2–1 defeat to playoff rivals Mount Hagen on the penultimate matchday ended their challenge.

With points tied on the final day of fixtures, Blue Kumuls went into their final match against Kagua-Erave knowing victory would guarantee qualification for the playoffs, while Mount Hagen needed to better Kumuls' result against Enga Laima. Despite Kagua-Erave securing a 1–0 victory over Blue Kumuls, Mount Hagen were unable to capitalise, losing 3–1 to Enga Laima and missing out on the playoffs on goal difference.[10][22]

The Islands Conference was the last to kick-off, starting on 24 February. Chebu AROB FC secured an opening-day 4–0 victory over Radazz FC, while West Tribe FC and Greengold Liners played out a 0–0 draw.[23] West Tribe and Chebu AROB had a strong first half of the season, sitting first and second respectively after both sides won all their matches, excepting Tribe's 1–0 victory over Chebu on 9 March.[10] However, Radazz FC came back strongly in the second half, securing 3–2 victories over Tribe and Chebu on consecutive weekends, propelling them into second, with Chebu a point behind with a game in hand. However, on 20 April, they could only manage a 2–2 draw against bottom side Gazelle FC, while Chebu secured a vital 3–2 win over West Tribe. Radazz completed their season with a 2–1 win after Greengold Liners, and sat second ahead of West Tribe by a point and behind the already qualified Chebu AROB, but having played a game more than both sides. As such, they could only watch as West Tribe played out their final fixture: a 5–1 thrashing of Gazelle, meaning that they and league winners Chebu would qualify for the playoffs.[10]

In the playoffs, all four Highlands and Islands teams were eliminated by Northern and Southern Conference sides, with reigning champions Toti City defeating Blue Kumuls 8–1 thanks to a double hat-trick from Raymond Gunemba.[10][24] In the two-legged semi-finals, previous champions Hekari United and Toti City came out on top against their conference rivals Eastern Stars and Morobe United respectively, before a penalty shoot-out decided the final in Toti City's favour after a 0–0 draw, allowing them to win their fifth consecutive league title.[3][10]

Regular season[]

Northern Conference[]

Matches took place at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium, Lae, and the , Madang.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Toti City (Q) 14 12 1 1 48 13 +35 37 Qualification to Playoffs
2 Morobe United (Q) 13 9 2 2 36 13 +23 29
3 Besta PNG United 14 9 1 4 31 24 +7 28
4 Lahi FC 13 4 3 6 19 32 −13 15
5 Laiwaden FC 13 4 2 7 18 28 −10 14
6 Markham FC 13 3 2 8 15 29 −14 11
7 Morobe Wawens 13 2 3 8 21 28 −7 9
8 Tusbab Stallions 13 2 2 9 16 37 −21 8
Source: PNG FA
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated

Results[]

Home \ Away BPU LAH LAI MAR MOU MOW TOC TUS
Besta PNG United — 0–2 1–2 2–1 3–2 2–0 2–3 4–1
Lahi FC 2–3 — 6–3 0–1 2–1 1–9 3–2
Laiwaden FC 2–3 0–0 — 2–0 3–2 1–2 0–1
Markham FC 3–3 0–0 0–1 — 2–4 2–1 0–5 4–1
Morobe United 1–0 6–0 6–0 2–1 — 1–0 0–0 6–1
Morobe Wawens 3–4 2–2 2–1 3–0 2–2 — 0–4 2–2
Toti City 0–1 3–1 4–2 4–0 3–1 3–2 — 6–0
Tusbab Stallions 2–3 2–0 1–1 1–2 1–4 1–2 —
Updated to match(es) played on 4 May 2019. Source: PNG FA
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Southern Conference[]

Matches took place at the Sir John Guise Stadium, Port Moresby.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Hekari United (Q) 14 14 0 0 45 12 +33 42 Qualification to Playoffs
2 Eastern Stars (Q) 14 8 0 6 34 22 +12 24
3 Port Moresby United 14 7 3 4 28 24 +4 24
4 FC Bougainville 14 7 1 6 19 13 +6 22
5 Central United 14 5 3 6 23 35 −12 18
6 PRK Gulf Komara 14 5 2 7 23 21 +2 17
7 Star Mountain FC 14 1 4 9 20 39 −19 7
8 Southern Strikers 14 1 3 10 17 43 −26 6
Source: PNG FA
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated

Results[]

Home \ Away BOU CEU EAS HEU PGK PMU SOS STM
FC Bougainville — 1–2 0–1 0–1 0–1 1–2 3–0[a] 2–0
Central United 0–2 — 2–6 1–3 2–1 1–6 1–0 2–2
Eastern Stars 1–2 1–2 — 2–3 0–2 1–2 4–1 4–1
Hekari United 1–0 2–0 4–1 — 3–1 1–0 6–2 7–2
PRK Gulf Komara 0–0 1–2 1–3 1–3 — 1–2 3–0 7–2
Port Moresby United 1–2 3–1 0–3 1–4 2–2 — 3–3 1–0
Southern Strikers 2–4 4–4 1–5 0–5 0–1 1–2 — 2–1
Star Mountain FC 1–2 3–3 1–2 1–2 2–1 3–3 1–1 —
Updated to match(es) played on 4 May 2019. Source: PNG FA
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
  1. ^ Original score 1–1, match awarded 3–0 against Southern Strikers after they fielded an ineligible player

Highlands Conference[]

Matches took place at the , Goroka.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Kagua Erave FC (Q) 10 8 0 2 32 9 +23 24 Qualification to Playoffs
2 Blue Kumuls (Q) 10 5 1 4 28 20 +8 16
3 Mt Hagen FC 10 5 1 4 17 18 −1 16
4 Aporo Mai FC 10 5 0 5 18 12 +6 15
5 Enga Laima FC 10 3 1 6 16 36 −20 10
6 Simbu Angra FC 10 1 3 6 17 33 −16 6
Source: PNG FA
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated

Results[]

Home \ Away APM BLK ENL KAE MTH SIM
Aporo Mai FC — 2–1 5–0 0–1 1–2 0–1
Blue Kumuls 4–2 — 4–3 0–2 2–0 1–1
Enga Laima FC 0–3[a] 2–6 — 1–11 0–3 4–1
Kagua Erave FC 0–1 1–0 0–1 — 3–0 6–2
Mt Hagen FC 3–2 3–0 1–3 1–4 — 3–2
Simbu Angra FC 0–2 4–10 2–2 3–4 1–1 —
Updated to match(es) played on 27 April 2019. Source: PNG FA
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
  1. ^ Match awarded 3–0 against Enga Laima after they failed to show for the match

Islands Conference[]

Matches took place at the , Kokopo and the , Kimbe.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Chebu AROB FC (Q) 8 6 0 2 19 10 +9 18 Qualification to Playoffs
2 West Tribe FC (Q) 8 5 1 2 22 10 +12 16
3 Radazz FC 8 4 2 2 17 17 0 14
4 Greengold Liners 8 0 4 4 12 18 −6 4
5 Gazelle FC 8 0 3 5 11 26 −15 3
Source: PNG FA
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated

Results[]

Home \ Away CHA GAZ NGL RAD WET
Chebu AROB FC — 3–0[a] 1–0 2–3 3–2
Gazelle FC 1–2 — 2–2 0–3 1–5
Greengold Liners 3–4 3–3 — 1–2 0–3
Radazz FC 0–4 2–2 3–3 — 1–3
West Tribe FC 1–0 6–2 0–0 2–3 —
Updated to match(es) played on 5 May 2019. Source: PNG FA
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
  1. ^ Match awarded 3–0 against Gazelle FC after they failed to show for the match

Playoffs[]

Quarter-finals Semi-finals Grand final
        
Hekari United 2
West Tribe FC 0
Hekari United 2 2 4
Eastern Stars 0 1 1
Chebu AROB FC 0
Eastern Stars 2
Hekari United 0 (4)
Toti City FC 0 (5)
Toti City FC 8
Blue Kumuls 1
Toti City FC 2 4 6 Third place match
Morobe United 1 1 2
Kagua-Erave FC 1 Eastern Stars 2
Morobe United 5 Morobe United 3

Quarter-finals[]

Hekari United2–0West Tribe
Tutizama Tanito Goal
Kolu Kepo Goal		 Report
Chebu AROB0–2Eastern Stars
Report Andrew Lepani Goal
Goal
Toti City FC8–1Blue Kumuls
Raymond Gunemba Goal Goal Goal Goal Goal Goal
Joshua Talau Goal
Goal		 Report Goal
Kagua Erave1–5Morobe United
  1. ^ Match originally due to be played in Kokopo on 11 May, but due to weather, it was postponed and rearranged to be played in a neutral venue

Semi-finals[]

First legs[]

Hekari United2–0Eastern Stars
Kolu Kepo Goal
Koriak Upaiga Goal		 Report
Toti City FC2–1Morobe United
Goal
Goal		 Report Goal

Second legs[]

Eastern Stars1–2Hekari United
Ian Paia Goal Report Patrick Aisa Goal
Tutizama Tanito Goal
Morobe United1–4Toti City FC
Goal Report Nigel Dabinyaba Goal Goal
Michael Foster Goal
Raymond Gunemba Goal

Third place match[]

Eastern Stars2–3Morobe United
Goal
Goal		 Report Goal
Goal
Goal

Grand final[]

Hekari United0–0 (a.e.t.)Toti City FC
Report
Penalties
 4–5

Controversies[]

Death of Mikes Gewa[]

On 30 March, Laiwaden FC goalkeeper was kicked in the ribs by Morobe Wawens' , and the player was hospitalised.[10] The player died just under a month later in hospital.[25] It was then revealed that the National Soccer League hadn't taken out medical insurance to cover its players, continuing that it would likely be the case for the following season, and that both the NSL and the clubs taking part had overlooked the issue and should share the blame.[25]

Playoff draws[]

The format of the playoffs caused some controversy amongst players, coaches and fans alike,[26] mainly because teams from the same regional division were not kept apart until the final, meaning it was impossible for two sides from the same conference to meet in the final and secure continental qualification. Furthermore, the format was changed twice within a month, leading Eastern Stars' chairman to describe it as 'fraud at the highest level'.[27] PNGFA chairman responded to the criticism by distancing the association, which only gives advice on how the competition should be run, from the management of the NSL itself, and stating that he believed the draws were done 'after taking into consideration the costs involved.'[28]

References[]

  1. ^ "Kumul Petroleum takes naming rights to NSL". Post Courier. 2019-01-31. Retrieved 2019-01-31.
  2. ^ "26 clubs set for NSL". The National. 2019-01-11. Retrieved 2019-01-12.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "Toti City win title in thriller". Post Courier. 2019-06-03. Retrieved 2019-06-08.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "National Soccer League calls for expression of interest from clubs | PNGFootball.com.pg". www.pngfootball.com.pg. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Competition Looking at Nationwide Participation". The National. 2018-11-19. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
  6. ^ "National Soccer League: Northern vs Highland's preview". Post Courier. 2019-05-10. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
  7. ^ "NSL set to kick off on January 26". Post Courier. 2019-01-18. Retrieved 2019-01-17.
  8. ^ "Admiralty confirm withdrawal, says PNGFA". The National. 2019-01-18. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
  9. ^ "Debutants register wins in NSL opener". Post Courier. 2019-01-28. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k "Papua New Guinea 2019". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
  11. ^ "Winnie shines as Stars flog Central". The National. 2019-04-23. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
  12. ^ "Own goal gives Eastern Stars win". Post Courier. 2019-05-06. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
  13. ^ "Champs see off United". The National. 2019-01-28. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  14. ^ "United claim third win, Madang clubs triumph". The National. 2019-02-18. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  15. ^ "Besta PNG Utd down Morobe United". Post Courier. 2019-04-23. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  16. ^ "Toti City, Morobe through". The National. 2019-05-07. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  17. ^ "Highlands leg of NSL kicks off". Post Courier. 2019-02-11. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  18. ^ "Hans scores four in Kagua's 11-goal romp at NSI". The National. 2019-02-18. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  19. ^ "Blue Kumuls defeat Mt Hagen, Kagua Erave edge Angra". The National. 2019-03-25. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  20. ^ "Aporro Mai hand Kagua Erave first loss in conference". The National. 2019-04-01. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  21. ^ "Aporro out to continue good recent form against Hagen". The National. 2019-04-12. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  22. ^ "Kangua Erave FC and Blue Kumuls qualify for NSL finals". Post Courier. 2019-04-23. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  23. ^ "AROB FC impress at NGI conference". Post Courier. 2019-02-25. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  24. ^ "Gunemba stars in Toti City 8-1 victory". Post Courier. 2019-05-13. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  25. ^ Jump up to: a b "Player's death sends shockwaves through soccer circles". Post Courier. 2019-05-01. Retrieved 2019-05-17.[verification needed]
  26. ^ "Format irks fans, officials". The National. 2019-05-15. Retrieved 2019-05-17.[verification needed]
  27. ^ "NSL finals draw change 'ticks off' franchises". Post Courier. 2019-05-15. Retrieved 2019-05-17.[verification needed]
  28. ^ "NSL testing new ground". Post Courier. 2019-05-16. Retrieved 2019-05-17.[verification needed]

External links[]

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