GOROKA Soccer Association has officially kicked off its 2025 season with 16 registered clubs over the weekend.

This comes after Goroka MP Aiye Tambua made a commitment of K100,000 to the association and presented the first K25,000 to support the growth of football in his electorate.

The funding will be given in tranches of K25,000 following acquittals from the initial fund.

Tambua said the same support has already been given to other sports in the district; however, he is willing to support football due to its popularity and recognition as a global sport.

He also challenged GSA to enter a team into the National Premier League competition affirming Goroka District’s support to sponsor in the future.

GSA president Coffman Alexander Menz while acknowledging the support from the MP said a Strategic Plan is already in place for the next four years. It has already been laid out and would be concentrating on a holistic approach to youth development in soccer.

“Balancing children’s education with soccer and the instilling of values.”

“As part of the strategic vision, GSA is pushing to acquire land to set up an academy in the Highlands of PNG and to cater for skills development of coaches, referee’s and of course our Goroka based player pool.”

Meanwhile the16 registered clubs include six institutional clubs representing University of Goroka and one from the Goroka Technical College.

FC NSI is the newest residential club to register for 2025 season while the rest are seasoned residential clubs within Goroka District.

The competition Divisions ranges with the U10, U13 and Masters expected to play Futsal while the U16 and U19, Senior Men’s and Women’s play the 11-a-side competition.