No games in Lae: MSG Cup matches shifted to Port Moresby

The Host Organizing Committee has confirmed that no MSG Prime Minister’s Cup games will be played at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium in Lae, after the venue failed to meet FIFA standards.

Chairman of the Host Organizing Committee, Leonard Louma, announced the decision this morning during a press conference, saying inspections and technical assessments conducted earlier this week found that the Lae facility did not meet requirements set by the Oceania Football Confederation [OFC] and FIFA, which sanction the tournament.

"We really wanted a few games to be played in Lae but due to FIFA standards we are now forced to have all games in Port Moresby," he said

Originally, two matches were scheduled to be held in Lae on Sunday, November 16 — the PNG women’s gold team versus New Caledonia, and the PNG men’s gold team versus Solomon Islands.

All fixtures will now be hosted in Port Moresby, with games set for the PNG Football Stadium and Sir John Guise Stadium from November 10 to 22.

Visiting teams are expected to arrive in the country starting today ahead of the tournament’s opening matches next Monday.