Tkatchenko criticises rugby admin

Sports

SPORTS Minister Justin Tkatchenko responded to claims by PNGRFU general manager Frank Genia that he had politicised the sport with his backing of Papua New Guinea Sports Foundation executive director Peter Tsiamalili Jr for its presidency, saying he was only interested in seeing rugby prosper under good management.
“I’ve always said from day one, the administration and the management of any sporting code is the key to its success,” Tkatchenko said at a press conference at Bava Park Stadium yesterday.
“If the administration and management are not doing their job that sporting code will not work, the game will not flourish and it will become absolutely stagnant.”
He said Genia had made a point of picking out his previous comments in the media on its governance or lack of, and this need to be clarified.
The minister said the Government, through the Sports Ministry had to come in at the last minute on more than one occasion to rescue rugby in hosting the Oceania Championship as well as sevens in lead-up preparations for international participation as well as logistics for tournaments over the last four years.
Additionally, funding under the Sports Enhancement Programme had gone to supporting tournaments around NCD, Central, New Ireland, Bougainville and other provinces.
This did not include the funding invested into facilities in Morobe, East New Britain, and West New Britain that would enable rugby to utilise them.
He said comments made about little or lack of Government support for rugby union were shallow.
“Rugby union only has to look at itself to know why it struggles to get corporate support,” he said.
“For it is no big secret that when your house is in order and great results are forthcoming, the corporate and private sector will no doubt be very willing to get onboard and assist ease financial woes, especially for programmes, representative teams, and international competitions.”
Tkatchenko said with regard to the nomination of Tsiamalili Jr he had not endorsed his candidacy but as his immediate boss had been comfortable with the move.
“Rugby union does need the passion and leadership of a person of Peter’s calibre, but that is not up to me, but to all affiliated unions,” Tkatchenko said.
He said the sport had the potential to achieve great success locally and internationally but it must start at the administration level. “The time is right, now, to take the steps to make rugby bigger and better, but this will not happen if people with their own selfish and ulterior motives continue to deter and hold the game to ransom.
“Sport is bigger than any one person. It is bigger than all of us. It must never be about indivudal egos and selfish motives.”
On the deferral of rugby’s annual general meeting acting president Ben Frame in a media release stressed that it had been a unanimously decision made by the board and not the PNGRFU office.
He said the majority of members were not compliant to the voting criteria (affiliations not paid, AGM’s not held, monthly reports not submitted, financials not submitted, player registration not submitted, etc…).
“If we were to proceed with the AGM on Wednesday (Oct 26), most of the members would not be eligible to vote, because they are not compliant,” Frame said.
“There is a reason a criteria is set, and because of all the ‘good governance’ concerns, the board has decided to stick to it.”
He said the board had adjourned the AGM to allow the deferral as an opportunity to ensure the unions were compliant and given the opportunity to voice opinions, concerns and votes at the AGM on January 25 next year.
Tkatchenko also raised his concern that the deferral of the AGM was in breach of rugby’s own constitution.
“Under their constitution it clearly states, crystal clear, that they must have a board meeting and an AGM as soon as possible and elect board members this month, not in the next couple of months, this month,” Tkatchenko said.
“When you start messing around with the constitution of rugby union question marks start to be raised. What is the real motive behind this? What is the real motive behind them changing the time for the election?
“The key here is what have they got to hide? What are they not telling us?”