MP commits thousands to Rigo Rugby League
By HENRY MORABANG
 LITTLE known Rigo Rugby Football League (RRFL) in Central province received a major boost with a sponsorship worth K350,000 over the next five years – courtesy of Rigo MP Anio Pala recently.
Pala, who was a former clerk of National Parliament, won the seat from former MP Anderson Vele and has been injecting more funds into human resource through sports and other areas.
About K70,000 would be allocated per year to see them through to the next term of Parliaments.
The Rigo MP was very impressed with the mobilisation of youth by the Rigo RFL and has promised to support it as long as he remains MP.
Pala strongly warned against spectator violence, which he said had been a major hindrance to the advancement of rugby league in rural areas.
“There is no place for such behaviour. You involvement in violence would simply chase away possible sponsors,” he said.
At the same time, the MP called on all the stakeholders of the game such as technical officials and players to seriously eradicate these problems, which is tarnishing the good image of the game.
Pala thanked Rigo Rugby League and its president Gwaibo Mairi for leading the way to promote the sport in his district.
Mairi yesterday thanked Pala for his timely sponsorship.
He said he had been trying his very best over the last three years to get support from local MPs to support rugby league in Rigo district but failed.
He said he wanted all the executives to come together and work out ways to put the money into good use.
It is understood that K50,000 will go towards the administration of the league while K300,000 would go infrastructure development.
The chairman of PNG Rugby Football League Albert Veratau who is also from Rigo is understood to be happy with the support from the local MP.
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