Minister explains trip

 SPORTS Minister Justin Tkatchenko said no government funding was used by Team Kumul for the Rugby League World  Cup.

Tkatchenko (pictured) added that his trip to the United Kingdom was also approved by the National Executive Council and comprised of a 12-memebr delegation.

“My trip to the UK was for several reasons. As sports minister I led a delegation that included my vice minister (Labi Amaiu), vice-minister for State Enterprises Wera Mori, Sports Foundation chairman Graham Osbourne and NCD Governor Powes Parkop,” Tkatchenko said.

He said the group inspected several sports venues in relation to the Pacific Games management and spoke with World Cup officials about the chance of PNG hosting a pool in 2017.

Tkatchenko, who returned last Thursday, said he wanted to make it clear to crtitics that the Kumuls are funded entirely from corporate sponsors and private entities.

“Let me make this very clear to people who think that the Kumuls are getting direct funding from the government. The team is sponsored entirely by corporate and private entites. No money from the national budget has been allocated to fund the Kumuls,” Tkatchenko said.

The Moresby South MP was responding to calls by former PNG Rugby Football League chairman Gary Juffa for a full audit of the Kumuls World Cup campaign as well as   that of Tkatchenko’s trip.

“Exxon Mobil, Air Niugini, PNG Power and the National Gaming Control Board are the major backers of the Kumuls and as announced earlier they have put in significant sums to support vthe five-year programme headed by Adrian Lam and Mal Meninga.”

Tkatchenko said the five sponsors were organisations that expected high standards in accountability and he expected Team Kumul to be transparent in all their dealings.