Cup referees get K500,000 from MVIL

THE Motor Vehicle Insurance Limited (MVIL) has presented a K500,000 sponsorship for referees in the 2023 Digicel Cup ExxonMobil competition and affiliated leagues.
MVIL chief executive Michael Makap made the presentation to Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League officials on Thursday.
Makap said rugby league was a powerful platform to drive road safety awareness and it was fitting for the company to partner with PNGRFL referees.
“This is not the first time for MVIL to partner with PNGRFL as we’ve been sponsoring their referees for many years,” Makap said.
“In 2019, Covid-19 affected our business and we didn’t sponsor but we got back on board recently. Now we are happy to donate K500,000 for 2023 season.
“We know that PNGRFL has over 20 local leagues that are affiliated to them and we want to use their platform to drive the message of safe driving and saving lives.
“With this I want to also take a stand against violence against referees. Without referees there will be no rugby league.
“Referees are important part of the game that’s why we are sponsoring them. Players and fans must respect referees and play by the rules.
“They’re humans and not machines so they will make mistakes but rules are rules and we have to respect that.”