17 Apr 2010

Security high on agenda for weekends O League final in PNG

11:22 am on 17 April 2010

Security is a high priority for this weekend's football O league final leg being held in Port Moresby between PNG's Hekari United and New Zealand's Waitakere United.

At a game in Vanuatu early this month, a number of the 3,000 spectators ran onto the playing pitch shortly before the end of the game, forcing local officials to end the match prematurely.

The owner of Hekari United, and Senior Vice President of Papua New Guinea's football association, John Kapi Natto, says security is a paramount concern.

"We would like to promote football at the highest level and such scenes of violence, there's no place for it in football. I myself will ensure that security is provided and I've spoken to the police commanders in the National Capital District in Port Moresby and they will boost all security."

John Kapi Natto says people have been getting behind the home side, and he is expecting a sell out match.

The 2010 O-League champion will secure the 500,000 US dollar playoff spot at the FIFA Club World Cup in Dubai in December.