Leagues given chance

By JACK AMI
LEAGUE affiliates in the country will have a chance to bid for and host international fixtures in this year after the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League put out for public tender all international fixtures.
PNG will host touring New Zealand Kiwis and women’s sides at the end of the year while the Intrust Super Cup country round game is another possible fixture on the calendar.
PNGRFL chairman Sandis Tsaka revealed this yesterday saying the public tenders would be a good way to enhance the commitment of provinces and businesses to the game in 2020.
“For the first time in the history of rugby league we are going to put out public tenders for local leagues who meet the minimum required to bid to host these fixtures,” he said.
Tsaka said the international calendar for the PNG Kumuls, PNG Orchids and PNG Hunters Country Rounds would all be put on tender.
Tsaka made the comments in response to The National report that Enga Governor Sir Peter Ipatas was looking to host a test between PNG and New Zealand.
Sir Peter said his government was hosting a test match and said they would allocate funds (K3 million) to develop and prepare Aipus Oval.
Tsaka said the PNGRFL board meeting on Saturday would endorse and confirm the PNGRFL calendar of events for this year.
He said the reason for the public tender was for affiliates to bid to host the events and improve their facilities with support of their provinces and the corporate sector.
“We are doing this so the government and local partners can invest in the stadiums so that leagues can bid for the right to host international matches,” Tsaka said.
“We want to ensure that the local leagues meet the minimum requirements for their respective venues.”
Tsaka said it was an opportunity for venues outside of Lae and Port Moresby to promote their leagues, provinces and improve facilities.
He said league strongholds such as Goroka, Mt Hagen, Mendi and Kokopo as well as Madang, Kimbe and even Wewak and Bougainville could benefit from.
He said the tender would also include accommodation, transport and other public utilities for visiting teams to use.