A possible three teams from Port Moresby and one from West New Britain province have not applied as of yesterday afternoon. And the deadline is today.
The teams that have applied were reigning champions Mabey & Johnson Muruks, Agmark Gurias, LBC Bombers, Pagini Warriors, Toyota Mioks and Bintangor Lahanis.
PNGRFL chief executive officer Jeff Wade said yesterday that teams who fail to tender their application by close of business today will miss out on this year’s competition which is due to kick off next month. He stressed that no late application will be entertained.
“At the moment the SP Cup board is waiting for the application from both new and existing teams. And, next week the board will screen all the applications and their fate will be known thereafter,” Wade told The National from his Lae office.
He said there were media speculations that West New Britain province had expressed an interest to affiliate but their application would only be decided by the board to take part if they applied which they had not by yesterday. Wade said any other new team that had applied will also know their fate next week.
Meanwhile, Mioks board says it had not sanctioned a training squad that was reportedly camping in Port Moresby for the past few weeks.
Mioks board chairman Yasowa Kome said yesterday that his board was not aware of the train-on squad and urged those organising the squad to consult the board for clarification.
Kome said the board had its first meeting last week and the second meeting would be held shortly in the presence of the franchise owner Toyota Ela Motors representatives to finalise the team.
“We will announce the train-on squad after the selection in the trial games in Enga and other centres. Then we will go to Port Moresby and consider players there, and yet now by people promoting themselves onto the team,” he said.