Papua New Guinea (PNG) will take a major step onto the professional football map this week as Port Moresby hosts Round Two of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Pro League, marking a historic moment for the country’s domestic game and Pacific football as a whole.
Eight of the region’s top clubs will compete at the Santos National Football Stadium from January 31 to 8 February, with matches played under full professional conditions – a first for PNG.
The arrival of the OFC Pro League in Port Moresby represents a milestone not only for PNG football but for the wider Pacific region, as the competition continues to lift standards and create new pathways for clubs and players.
Teams from across Oceania are arriving in the capital ahead of a packed week of matches, with Auckland FC and South Melbourne FC among the headline visitors.
The Kiwis and Aussies are joined by clubs from Fiji, Vanuatu, French Polynesia Tahiti, the Solomon Islands, and PNG, turning Port Moresby into the centre of Pacific football this week.
John Kapi Natto, the President of PNG’s Football Association and an OFC Board member, said hosting the tournament was the result of years of planning and cooperation across the region.
“It’s a dream come true for many,” Kapi Natto said in a statement. “Round one kicked off already and the second round is coming to Papua New Guinea.”
Kapi Natto says the move to professional football has not been easy, especially for local teams adjusting to higher levels of speed and intensity seen in earlier matches played in New Zealand.
“As someone who sits on the OFC Board, this is something that we are building and it is not easy,” he said.
On the field, PNG champions Hekari FC face a tough challenge after returning from Auckland, where they were exposed to the pace of the professional game.
The club currently sits at the bottom of the standings and will be under pressure when they meet competition leaders Auckland FC on Saturday.
In a post-match conference following the 5-0 rout from South Melbourne, Hekari assistant coach Jerry Allen said, “It was very difficult for us on Sunday, a new thing to us.
“We are all new but we have time to learn. I do believe the players will learn from this game and also the first game,” Allen said.
“I saw the level of games in Auckland and it’s different from what we are used to with the pace, so it’s going to be exciting,” Kapi Natto said.
Auckland FC are due to arrive in Port Moresby on Wednesday, with Bula FC, Vanuatu United, Tahiti United, and Solomon Kings expected later in the week as the tournament builds momentum.
Matches will be played at the Santos National Football Stadium, giving local fans the chance to see top-level Pacific football up close.
Tickets are available through Post PNG outlets in Port Moresby and online via TicketMastas. Fans outside the capital can follow the action live on NBCTV and NBC Radio.
As the OFC Pro League continues to grow, this week’s matches in Port Moresby signal a strong push by the Pacific towards a fully professional football future.
