ENB not ready to host PM’s XIII match

EAST New Britain will have to starting work hard to upgrade the Kalabond Oval and its facilities if the province is keen on hosting the Prime Minister’s XIII match between PNG and Australia.
However, while the concentration is on upgrading the facilities in the province, the proposed match that was supposed to be held in  East New Britain in September has been moved back to Port Moresby.
Prime Minister’s XIII working committee interim chairman Alois ToBata said the latest change of venue for the match was due to time factor and the non-availability of funding to upgrade the oval, its facilities and seating capacity under the original plan.
International Rugby League development manager Tas Baitieri, who visited facility when he travelled to the province in April, said it had a brilliant surface and “soft under the foot” compared to Port Moresby’s hard surface.
He added earlier that it was a standard size pitch but did not the capacity to cater for 12,000 to 13,000 people.
In a meeting last week, East New Britain Governor Leo Dion, provincial administrator Akuila Tubal and the working committee decided that the match be brought back to Port Moresby.
ToBata said Dion was supportive of the idea, adding that the timing and sourcing of funds was late.
He has written to the Sports Minister Philemon Embel explaining the province’s position on deferring the PM’s XIII match in Kokopo to next year.
Dion has committed K800,000 in the province’s budget allocation for next year for work to start on the Kalabond Oval.
However, work is expected to start in October when the rugby league season ends.
He also sent his apologies to Embel, Australia Rugby League, PNG Rugby Football League and stakeholders for the changes that have come about.
Dion also said he would be sourcing funding from the government through the National Gaming and Control Board.
The Prime Minister’s XIII will now be played at the Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby on Sept 19.