Kula FC Gears for Premier Soccer League Season

Kula Football Club, a team from Alotau District in Milne Bay Province, is one of the new clubs that will be participating in the 2025 Premier Soccer League (PSL) competition following their successful bid to join the semi-professional soccer league in Papua New Guinea.

The name ‘Kula’ is derived from a ceremonial exchange system conducted in the Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea. Kula is a traditional barter trade system mainly practiced in most parts of Milne Bay.   

Alotau, let alone Milne Bay, is a football-dominated province. There’s untapped potential in that eastern part of Papua New Guinea that needs a pathway to expose their talents and the local MP Hon. Ricky Morris has responded by establishing the Kula FC. 

The last time a club from Milne Bay participated in the PSL competition was the Eastern Stars FC in 2019. They performed exceptionally well and reached the semi-final but lost to the star-studded Hekari United FC outfit. However, they pulled out of the competition in 2020. 

Five years later, the Kula FC entered the scene, hoping to promote not only Alotau but Milne Bay as a whole while setting their sights on being competitive against heavyweights like Hekari and Lae City FC. Kula FC has what it takes to play in the finals as they have shown their capability in 2019 through the participation of the Eastern Stars.

The Kula FC assembled a 25-man squad for the 2025 PSL season. Most of the players have been selected from the Alotau Soccer Association (ASA) while some players were scouted from the Genesis FC in the Port Moresby Soccer Association (PMSA).

Club Patron and Alotau MP Honorable Ricky Morris highlighted the importance of registering Kula FC to take part in the PSL competition this year, aiming to create opportunities for the raw talents and be competitive. 

“I am so proud to announce the team (Kula FC) that will be taking part in the Premier Soccer League this year,” Hon. Morris stated.

“Milne Bay is a soccer province and we have love and passion for the game, and I believe our participation in the PSL competition will also help elevate the code.  

“Our purpose of registering Kula FC is to empower our youths and also create a pathway of building soccer in the province. Through this pathway, they will be able to showcase and expose their skills.

“We are here not for statistics and to make up the numbers, we are here to compete and win the competition.”

Hon. Morris further extended his appreciation to the PNGFA for accepting their bid. He also acknowledged the sponsors for backing Kula FC to partake in the 2025 PSL season and appealed to the Milne Bay leaders to work together and promote football in the province.

In addition, Opposition Leader and Kiriwina-Goodenough MP Honorable Douglas Tomuriesa congratulated Hon. Morris and the management of Kula FC on their successful bid to take part in the PSL competition. He pledged K100,000 to Kula FC.

The National Capital District Governor Honorable Powes Parkop also congratulated Hon. Morris and Hon. Tomuriesa for standing behind Kula FC. He also pledged K50,000 to the club and wished the new team best of luck in their campaign this year.

On behalf of PNGFA, Chief Operating Officer Stanley Khanna said the hard work that Kula FC had done in the last few years finally culminated in this momentous occasion.       

Meanwhile, the Kula FC will be based in Port Moresby for six months and compete in the semi-professional competition, hoping to steal the title from the back-to-back champions, the Hekari United FC. The PSL competition kicks off this weekend.