Bougainville Football Federation

The Bougainville Football Federation is the governing body of association football in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, a self-governing territory of Papua New Guinea. It is currently a member of the Papua New Guinea Football Association. As of June 2022 the president of the federation is Justin Helele.[1] The federation organizes all official footballing competitions in Bougainville.[2]

Bougainville Football Federation
OFC
FIFA affiliationN/A
OFC affiliationN/A
PresidentJustin Helele
WebsiteOfficial Website

History

The Bougainville Football Federation as a regional body has existed since at least the 1970s and has had a troubled relationship with the national governing body for decades. In 1973 the president of the association questioned the lack of Bougainvillean players on the Papua New Guinea national team and the treatment of its clubs.[3][4]

In 2016 the BFF was one of several regional associations that broke away from the PNGFA and were suspended at the organization's Congress on 28 December 2016. The Bougainville federation was reinstated as a member of the national association in August 2018.[5]

For the 2019 season Bougainvillean club Chebu AROB F.C. joined the Papua New Guinea National Soccer League with the express purpose of "promoting and showcasing the quality of football in the region."[6]

The Autonomous Region of Bougainville is set to gain independence from Papua New Guinea and become a fully sovereign nation by 2027. In 2022, the president of the Bougainville Football Federation expressed the association's desire to join FIFA and, presumably, the OFC.[7] The federation and the governing bodies have already begun working together on footballing projects in the territory.[8][9][10][11]

References
  1. "BOUGAINVILLE FOOTBALL FEDERATION PRESIDENT CALLS FOR SUPPORT". New Dawn on Bougainville. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  2. Tseraha, Peterson. "South B'Ville's MP Cup Ends on High Note". Post Courier. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  3. "Bougainville Soccer Issues Challenge". Post Courier. Papua New Guinea Post Courier. 10 August 1973. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  4. "Developing Pikinini football". Papua New Guinea Football Association. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  5. Jakanduo, Leo. "PNGFA turns a new chapter to end split". Papua New Guinea Football Association. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  6. Munme, Alex. "Chebu AROB Appeal For Sponsor". Post Courier. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  7. Stephen, Craig. "Football's Newest Nation". Pog Mo Goal. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  8. "Akoitai calls for probe into funding allocated by FIFA to build a soccer academy in Bougainville". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  9. "Bougainville joins Just Play family". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  10. "Bougainville to get football academy". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  11. "Bougainville football on track". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
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