Muruks use unauthorised uniform in last-round loss

By MELTON PAIS
THE Mendi Muruks ended their Digicel Cup season not just with a 22-16 loss to the Gulf Isou but did it wearing an unauthorised uniform last Sunday at the National Football Stadium.
The Petroleum Resources Kutubu side wore a different strip that had the Telikom logo emblazoned on it — an unfortunate choice of attire since the semi-professional competition is sponsored by competitor Digicel.
The Muruks were forced to wear the new strips after their uniforms were forcibly taken off team management by a disgruntled player in Mt Hagen last week.
The club has been in turmoil for several weeks with a player revolt over unpaid match payments the main cause of the club’s problem.
The Papua New Guinea Rugby Football league, PNG National Rugby League competition and Digicel Cup committee are expected to meet this week to decide on the appropriate sanctions for the Southern Highlands-based side.
Some players, who wished to remain anonymous told The National that they wanted to give the round 18 match to the Isou on forfeit but decided to play in order to end the season properly.
“One of our own boys who was angry at the team management for not paying the match payments on time came with his relatives and threatened the players with bush knives and took our uniforms,” the players’ spokesman said.
Muruks assistance coach Jack Kereme confirmed that the incident happened last Friday and they came to Port Moresby without their uniforms.
“We had no jerseys and we did not have much choice but to hire a local rugby league club’s uniforms in Port Moresby to complete last round,” Kereme said.
“We only agreed to play to protect the club’s reputation and also to finish the last round properly,” Kereme said of the Muruks who finished seventh on 13 points after Sunday’s result.
“On be behalf of the Mendi Muruks, I apologies to the our major sponsor Digicel PNG and the Digicel Cup executives for breaching agreement we signed this year.
“We’ve had a tough last couple of weeks and we just wanted to end the season on the field.”