D-day for Masta Mak Rangers

By KEVIN TEME
WITH one more day to go before they know their fate, the Masta Mak City Rangers are positive the PNGNRL board would make a decision in their favour to allow them to compete in this year’s Digicel Cup competition.
Franchise owner Kelly Aiyok when contacted last night confirmed that he had only one more day to make the payment while supporters of the team have come out public to express their disappointment at the “harsh” treatment by the PNGNRL board.
Aiyok, in an exclusive interview yesterday, confirmed that Rangers owed the PNGNRL board K58,000 while another K80,000 was imposed on them for not giving in their home game fees of K20,000 per game for four games last season.
Another K90,000 will also have to be paid for the franchise’s participation this year and Aiyok said the total amount owed was harsh on the team.
When Don Fox was contacted last night, he said he could not comment on the issue as he was in a meeting.
The PNGNRL board at this time have not confirmed the number of teams that have fully paid their franchise fees with the deadline being tomorrow.
While some teams in the past had been given a chance to pay their dues in installments despite missing the deadline, Rangers have not been given or promised to be given the privilege by the PNGNRL board.
Fox in an earlier interview said he had given enough time for the Rangers and they had extended the deadline from last month to give the Rangers time to pay up.
However, with their debts yet to be paid, the total amount to be met is too much for the sole franchise owner to meet.
When Aiyok was contacted, he said the Rangers was his baby and that he would do everything in his capacity to pay the necessary fees.
Rangers might have a chance if other franchise owners do not pay their franchise fees by tomorrow or if the dead line is extended.
Aiyok said he could pay his debt with the franchise fee and pay the K80,000 imposed in installments.
Meanwhile, a senior sports administrator, who did not want to be named, said the Rangers had to be treated fairly as it was an existing team and the debts would still be paid.