Mairi, Tokam back Tsaka to remain as PNGRFL chairman

By JACK AMI
PAPUA New Guinea Rugby Football League Southern Confederation director Gwaibo Mairi and his Highlands counterpart Joe Tokam have backed chairman Sandis Tsaka to retain his seat at the league’s annual general meeting on March 7 in Port Moresby.
Mairi told The National yesterday that he and Tokam were also confident of retaining their positions and would work with Tsaka to continue the work of developing the sport in the country.
He said the AGM would see league presidents nominate their candidates for the positions of the PNGRFL board chairman and confederation directors and this would ensure a democratic process and ensure everyone’s voice was heard.
Mairi said he knew that he and Tokam would be challenged for their positions and he welcomed it.
“We know it’s a public office and it’s their right to nominate who they want for the positions,” he said.
“We have achieved a lot from the great impasse and turned the image of the code around and improved the administration over the last six years.”
Mairi said Tsaka’s leadership, the International Rugby League Federation had recognised Papua New Guinea with Tsaka appointed as chairman of the Southern Hemisphere board.
“This shows the confidence they have in us,” he said.
Mairi said Tsaka had been one of the league’s best chairman over his two terms.
Mairi said all leagues attending the annual meeting needed to meet all requirements like conducting their local meetings to present their annual reports to the confederation.
He said those local leagues that did not meet the requirements would forfeit their right to be part of the AGM.
He said all affiliates needed to comply with PNGRFL directives.
Meanwhile, a group of Southern affiliates claimed they would put up a candidate to contest against Mairi because they claimed the PNGRFL under its current leadership had not done enough to help local leagues develop.
They said the governing body had tended to focus more on the glamour and privilege of their positions and the elite level in the Kumuls and Hunters and left the small man to fend for himself.