The company has agreed to sponsor the league to the tune of PGK 50,000 and will receive naming rights in return.
A total of eight women’s teams are taking part in the competition this season – four of which are based in Port Moresby and the other four in Lae – and it will be known from now on as the Ox & Palm Women’s National Soccer League.
Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) business development manager Chris Brown says the company is looking forward to its partnership with the association while women’s national team member Miriam Lanta has also welcomed the news.
Lanta, who has over 40 caps for her country and is one of the most well-known female players in Papua New Guinea, says the sponsorship deal will be a boost to the development of the competition and will assist in the production of up-and-coming young players.
Hugo Canning’s decision to back the national league is the latest positive move in the growth of the women’s game in Papua New Guinea and follows hot on the heels of several other developments.
The national team achieved its highest ever placing on the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Rankings earlier this month – climbing one place up to 52nd – after winning a record-breaking third consecutive Pacific Games gold medal in New Caledonia in September.
Papua New Guinea will host the next Pacific Games in 2015 while the women’s national team will be in action again in March as it looks to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.
For more on Papua New Guinea football go to www.pngfootball.com.pg

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