With less than three days before the May 28 deadline, only two from the 15 National Soccer League franchise clubs have paid their EOI non-refundable Fees of K10,000 and have also submitted their Expression of Interest (EoI) forms to the PNGFA Competition Department. The two teams are Port Moresby Strikers (formerly Southern Strikers) and Hekari United FC from Port Moresby. Other teams are yet to meet the affiliation and registration requirements includes Kimbe FC (NGI), Lae City, Lae City Dwellers, FC Morobe Wawens, Morobe United (Lae) Tusbab Stallions (Madang), Kutubu FC (Kutubu), Star Mountain FC (Tabubil) Hekari United FC, Vitiaz FC, Komara FC, FC Bougainville (Port Moresby), Oro United FC (Popondetta) and Sepik FC (Wewak). So far the Competition Department have sent Eol to 15 interested franchise clubs but only two responded positively by paying up their dues. Acting PNGFA Competition Director Rossje Suwae confirmed that Port Moresby Strikers and Hekari United FC have paid their fees and submitted their EOI forms for the upcoming National Soccer League. The NSL season is expected to kick off on July 17. Ms Suwae who recently took over as the acting Competition Director urged all the clubs to pay up their necessary registration and affiliation requirements. Meanwhile Suwae wishes to clarify that the deadline for the 2021 NSL EoI submissions has not been brought forward, it remains as initially scheduled on May 28, 2021. Ms Suwae further re-emphasized that since the 2021 NSL season comprises of a 10-team competition, it is important for clubs to express interest at the earliest as late submissions made after May 28, 2021 deadline will not be accepted, unless otherwise instructed by the NSL Standing Committee or the PNGFA Executive Committee. The annual affiliation fee remains at K80,000 and must be paid by July 12, 2021 before the tentative 2021 NSL season competition start date of July 17, 2021.