The AFL National Championships will go ahead as planned despite the cost of sending teams from the regions to play is expected to be high this year. According to the Senior Football Manager for AFL PNG Mr. Rex Leka, they are adamant to hold the National Championships because of the International Cup 2024 (IC24) that’s coming up in Australia. The Championships will be where selections will be made for the national teams to participate in the IC24. “The cost of sending, say three teams to one location for the championships, can cost over K100, 000, which is high,” he said. Mr. Leka added that a team from one center will have two divisions, both men and women’s teams and that would cost a lot just to send them to the National Championships and back. Nevertheless, AFL PNG wants to see the championships take place since it has been a while since the last one was held following the COVID- 19 pandemic. The centers expected to put in teams for the National Championships are Lae, Hagen, Port Moresby, and East New Britain and West New Britain provinces. Meanwhile, the finalized schedule for the National Championships is expected to be put together by next week following the second AFL PNG Board Meeting.