Yasasa & Simon Join Bendigo City FC

PNG Kapuls internationals, Yagi Yasasa and Emmanuel Simon, flew down to Australia on Tuesday (March 11th) to join Bendigo City FC in Victoria’s National Premier League 2 competition in Melbourne.

Both players had strong campaigns with their respective clubs (POM Strikers & Gulf Komara) in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) competition last season, drawing the attention of Bendigo City FC to sign them on a short stint contract. 

Player agent and former PNG Kapuls forward, George Slefendorfas, stated that both players arrived safely in Melbourne and set to go straight into training with their new club to compete in the Victoria 2 league.

After settling in Melbourne, both players immediately made their debut with Bendigo City FC the next day and helped their new club pull off a resounding 7-3 victory to start their campaign on a successful note.  

Slefendorfas hails from a mixed parentage of Lithuania-PNG, who once represented the Kapuls in the 1970s and currently resides in Melbourne, Australia. He runs the Player Pin Management by creating opportunities for emerging footballers or soccer players.  

The former Kapul explained that he knew Yasasa and Simon when the PNG Kapuls went to play one of the international fixtures in Brisbane. Through that short relationship, he was able to connect the two players with Bendigo City FC. 

“I got to know both Emmanuel and Yagi when the PNG national team (Kapuls) were playing and training in Brisbane,” he said.

“I currently run an agency called player pin management where we create pathways for young ambitious players who want to further their careers overseas.” 

Yasasa and Simon said they were privileged to have the opportunity to ply their trade with the Victorian club in the second-tier competition to prove their worth this season.   

The Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) is pleased with the news, stating that the international exposure would be invaluable in enhancing the skills and experience of the two players, including other local players in PNG.