A new dawn as Port Moresby takes center stage in Pacific professional football

Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby will host round 2 of OFC Pro League (Image: NBC News)

This week, the dream of professional football in Papua New Guinea officially becomes a reality. As eight of the Pacific's elite clubs arrive in the nation’s capital for Round Two of the OFC Pro League.

From January 31st to February 8th, the Santos National Football Stadium will converge into the epicenter of regional excellence. The arrival of giants like Auckland FC and South Melbourne will ignite NFS as PNG Football Association [PNGFA] prepares to host professional-grade fixtures for the first time.

PNGFA President John Kapi Natto, a key architect of this transition and a member of the OFC Board, said the occasion is a long-awaited breakthrough for the local game.

"Its a dream come true for many," Kapi Natto said. "Round one kicked off already and the second round is coming to Papua New Guinea.

"As someone who sits on the OFC Board, this is something that we are building and it is not easy.

"I saw the level of games in Auckland and its different from what we are used to with the pace so its going to be exciting."

The PNG Hekari outfit in one of the training sessions in Auckland, New Zealand (Image: Supplied)

While the hosting duties is a victory for the administration, the challenge on the pitch remains steep. Kapi Natto said professional level has brought a different pace to the game, urging local side PNG Hekari to adapt quickly.

Currently sitting at the bottom of the table, Hekari will be looking to translate the energy of the home crowd into their first three points of the season when they face ladder-leaders Auckland FC this Saturday.

The influx of international talent begins tomorrow as Auckland FC touches down, followed by a wave of arrivals including Vanuatu United, Tahiti United, and Solomon Kings later in the week.

For fans wanting to witness this new dawn in person, tickets are now available at Post PNG outlets across Port Moresby and online via TicketMastas.

Tickets are on sale at all Post PNG outlets in Port Moresby including Waterfront, Eliseo 9-mile, Brian Bell Gordon Plaza, Boroko, Eliseo Rainbow and J-Mart Erima.

For those across the provinces, the historic rounds will be broadcast live on NBCTV and NBC Radio.