Former Papua New Guinea international footballer Roland Bala is taking another important step in his commitment to developing the country’s next generation of football talent, thanks to support from Air Niugini.

The national airline has assisted with travel to Brisbane, Australia recently, enabling Bala to undertake his B Diploma coaching accreditation and further enhance his coaching capabilities. The qualification builds on his existing C Diploma certification and equips him with advanced skills and knowledge that will directly benefit the young Papua New Guineans he mentors.

A former PNG representative who also played professionally in Australia and New Zealand, Bala views the opportunity as much more than personal career development. For him, it is about investing in the future of Papua New Guinea’s young footballers and creating pathways for them to succeed both on and off the field.

For the past three years, Bala has been running a grassroots football program at Bisini Soccer Grounds in Port Moresby, providing children aged six to fourteen with a safe, structured and supportive environment to learn football, build friendships and develop important life skills.

What began with just three children has grown into a thriving program with nearly 70 participants currently enrolled, while more than 100 young Papua New Guineans have benefited from the initiative since its inception.

Driven by a passion for football and a desire to give back to the community, Bala identified a gap in youth football development and set out to create opportunities for children who may otherwise have limited access to organised sport.

“The program aims to provide a safe environment where children can come and be themselves while developing both their football and social skills,” Bala said.

“We want to create a pathway that enables young players to progress into youth and senior football competitions, and hopefully one day represent Papua New Guinea or play professionally overseas.”

Beyond teaching football techniques, Bala believes sport plays a vital role in shaping young lives by instilling discipline, teamwork, respect and confidence. Parents have reported positive changes in their children, both socially and on the field, reinforcing the value of grassroots sport in community development.

As Papua New Guinea continues to invest in opportunities for young people, community-based sports programs such as Bala’s are playing an increasingly important role in promoting healthy lifestyles, positive social connections and pathways to achievement.

Air Niugini Chief Commercial Officer David Glover said the airline was happy to support Bala’s professional development because of the lasting impact it will have on young Papua New Guineans.

“Air Niugini is proud to provide travel support to Roland Bala as he advances his coaching qualifications and continues his outstanding work with young people in our communities.”

Roland’s journey is a powerful example of a former national representative giving back by investing his time, knowledge and experience into nurturing the next generation of Papua New Guinean footballers. His grassroots program is not only developing sporting talent, but also helping young people build confidence, discipline, teamwork and strong values that will serve them throughout their lives.

By supporting Roland’s attendance at the B Diploma coaching course in Brisbane, we are contributing to the development of coaching expertise that will directly benefit dozens of young athletes today and many more in the years ahead. We commend his commitment to creating opportunities for young Papua New Guineans and are pleased to play a small role in helping him expand that impact.”

Bala said the coaching program in Brisbane exposed him to new ideas, modern coaching methods and valuable experiences that he is eager to implement within his growing football academy.

“I am very grateful to Air Niugini for providing the travel support that made this opportunity possible,” he said.

“The knowledge I gain from this course will help improve our coaching systems and training methods, particularly in developing the young players’ understanding of the game. Everything I learn will be passed on to the children in our program and help them grow both as footballers and as individuals.”

His long-term vision is to establish a football academy and club that provides a clear pathway for young players to continue their development and pursue opportunities both locally and overseas.

Bala also hopes to expand football clinics into other provinces and create opportunities for young Papua New Guineans to participate in international tournaments and exchange programs, exposing them to broader experiences and higher levels of competition.

At its heart, however, his mission remains simple: ensuring young people have access to the same opportunities and life-changing experiences that football provided him.

By investing in his own development today, Bala is helping lay the foundation for a stronger future for football in Papua New Guinea, one where talented young players are identified early, nurtured effectively and given every opportunity to succeed. Through his efforts, the lessons learned on the football field are helping shape not only future athletes, but future leaders, role models and proud representatives of Papua New Guinea.