International Food Corporation presented K100, 000 including trophies to the Papua New Guinea Football association for the Besta Challenge by the four regions – Momase, Southern, Islands and Highlands in the country.
The Momase leg of the challenge was staged two weeks ago while the other three have yet to hold theirs.
Alotau will host the Southern Region challenge while Lae plays host to the New Guinea Islands. According to organizing officials, the final for the Besta Cup challenge is expected to be held on November 14.
The Besta FA Cup will see six men’s and four women’s teams from regional pool winners competing for the prestigious prize.
The commitment is not only seen as a strategic marketing avenue for its products but as part of the company’s social responsibility, company chief executive officer Rosedean Dzulkfli said.
He said the sponsorship was a way forward to identify and develop young talent in the game.
Launching the FA Cup, Dzulkfli said with the theme ” Raising tomorrow’s champions” it was all about developing quality soccer players while at the same time enhancing the standard of game in Papua New Guinea.
PNGFA chief executive officer Dimirit Mileng thanked the company, said the format this year would see the men’s team in two pools with three teams playing against each other and top two of each pool proceeding into finals.
The men’s pool 1; Momase 1, New Guinea Islands and Southern 1while Highlands, Southern 2 and Momase 2 make up pool 2.
For the women’s New Guinea Islands plays Highlands and Momase takes on Southern, with the winners qualifying for the grand final, while the losers play for third place.
Mileng is urging interest women’s teams to come on board to play soccer so that the slot for final series would be increased. He invited business houses in Lae and around the country to support the corporation, which had been sponsoring the Besta FA Cup regional tournament for three years.
He said the Besta junior development programme was now into its fourth year.