Joseph: We’ll resolve it

 By JOHN PANGKTANA

THE franchise owners of the PRK Mendi Muruks are set to clear the air on issues that led to a poor start to their Digicel Cup campaign.

 Club patron Pastor Isaac Joseph, pictured left, yesterday confirmed that PRK and MRDC, will hold a press conference today to put all matters to rest.

 He confirmed that the 11th hour inclusion of the Muruks did not help as the players were “all over the place” and basically there were two different camps.

“We were expecting problems going to Kokopo but it was not something that could not be solved before the next game,” he said.

“Players were being flown from different directions just to fill a team. I spent my own money just to ensure our players were not left stranded in Port Moresby and allowances were given to players and management,” he said.

He said since the new franchise came on-board there was no proper management put in place to administer the team.

“This led to no proper direction, but now the directors of PRK and MRDC, the only financial contributors at this stage have met to come up with a solution,” he said.

This will see a board of directors put in place and a proper management team appointed.

He confirmed that the six players of interest stayed back in Port Moresby because they wanted to secure themselves first before playing. “Because everything was done late, nothing is as yet in place to solve the player’s interests,” he added. 

Joseph said that the problem was an administrative issue it would be solved once a permanent Muruks management is in place.

He also made the point that there are a lot of potential Muruks players just waiting to be given a chance to wear the famous black and white colours. 

“The team which is the pride of the Southern Highlands Province cannot be held to ransom by one or two players even if they are star players,” he stressed.

Meanwhile sponsor Kiburu Lodge through Imbongu MP Francis Awesa, pictured centre, confirmed the appointment of Chris Saddlier as an interim excutive of the the management team.

Mineral Resources Development Company boss Augustine Mano, pictured right, is reportedly supportive of Awesa and Joseph.