MEET PNG Football Association President John Kapi Natto. A passionate sports lover and he is no stranger on the sporting field be it basketball, rugby, rugby league and now football (soccer). Everyone doubted his capability when he first took up the football presidentship as doubters say, how can and highlander take charge of football.

He proved everyone wrong from day one up until today. Married to Solomon Islander, Vonnie Eteaki, Mr Kapi Natto has inherited his leadership quality from his great father and sport lover as well, late Kapi Natto Snr to ensure Kapi Natto legacy and sports strive on.

Mr Kapi Natto took over his late father as President of Hekari Soccer Association in Kutubu and elected as vice president in Mt Hagen Elective Annual Congress but had hold onto the post for a short while and parted ways from former President David Chung over maladministration of the code.

He parted ways from Mr Chung as he does not like the way former President David Chung was runing the football administration so he challenged him during the AGM in Kimbe 2016. Mr Chung won, Only six Member Associatons elected him while other 12 members did not attend the Elective Congress.

Out of frustration of the results and non attendance of the Kimbe meeting, Mr Kapi Natto launched a breakaway football body, Football Federation PNG. That was after seven local associations were suspended by the PNG Football Association in 2016.

There was a big fall-out between the two football organisations – PNGFA and FFPNG which attract the attention of OFC and FIFA to intervene. FIFA directed a fresh election after Chung who was the Vice President of FIFA and also President was banned by FIFA.

Mr Kapi Natto was elected as football chief after Chung was banned by FIFA for corruption in the administration of football in the country and Oceania – Chung was also a former OFC President and former FIFA Vice President– forcing Chung to resign from his seat. Mr Kapi Natto beat interim President John Wesley to assume the role after the FIFA direct Elective Congress.

Oceania Football Confederation President Lambert Maltock congratulated Kapi Natto while also acknowledging the difficult road ahead at that time. “While news of your election will bring great joy and happiness to many football fans and leaders in PNG, I know you will be very aware of the huge responsibility ahead of you to restore the credibility and good image of football in Papua New Guinea,” Maltock said.

Maltock also acknowledged the work PNGFA Vice-President Gonjuan has done in the interim, following the resignation of former president David Chung earlier this year. Since Mr Kapi Natto was at helm, he championed number of reforms which include spreading the game to all four regions of the country which saw an increase number of Member Association from 18 to now 23 MA’s

Under Kapi Natto leadership, PNGFA now has introduced two new competitions to its program which include Futsal and Beach Competition. Beach Soccer will take part in the OFC Beach Championship for the first time since the introduction last year in Honiara, Solomon Island. Kapi Natto has a colourful history on the field of play .. having represented Mendi Muruks as five-eighth and also played for Mendi Tarangau, played rugby union for Southern Chiefs and moved on to Bisini to formed the then Souths – now Hekari United FC.

Hekari United was the first island club apart from Australia and New Zealand to play in the World Cup in 2010 in Abu Dhabi. His dedication to football development is well documented. The Organization under the Leadership of Mr. Natto has undergone a lot of transformation.
He emphasized Good Governance & Compliance, Transparency, Football Growth, Development and Building Better Communities by reaching out to all rural areas. Mr. John Kapi Natto who was elected in 2018, has adopted a vision to promote and popularize football as the number one sport throughout the country and develop Papua New Guinea into a leading football nation in the Oceania region.