Numapo blasts League

 By JOHN PANGKATANA

FORMER Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) chairman John Numapo says the sacking of Adrian Lam as Kumul coach is a “smoke screen” to please the public.

“Now why am I not surprised that Lam has been returned but for a different role but still under Team Kumul,” Numapo said.

Lam’s re-engagement was revealed during the launch of the ‘Team Kumul rugby league development plan 2014 to 2017’ last week. 

PNGRFL board chairman Sandis Tsaka confirmed that Lam’s services has been retained to assist newly appointed Kumul coach Mal Meninga as his contractual obligations extended to January 31.

Tsaka had also explained that Lam and those under Team Kumul are still on the payroll, but stressed that as of January 31 everybody will be removed from the payroll.

This has came as no surprise to Numapo, as he explained that clauses 2.1 and 2.2 of the high performance contract agreement signed between PNGRFL and Team Kumul Limited clearly stated that Meninga and Lam are engaged as consultants to Team Kumul Limited for a period of five years from February 1, 2013 to January 31, 2018.

“Unless the contract is terminated and there is no evidence to suggest that it has been terminated,” he said in a statement.

Numapo (pictured) said both Lam and Meninga effectively remain as consultants to the Team Kumul and will continue to do so until 2018 as per the terms of the contract.

“For all intended purposes, this is a legally binding agreement and is enforceable as law if breached,” he said.

Numapo said the PNGRFL after realizing that the decision to sack Lam was wrong and the possibility of being sued for unlawful termination, they did a 180 degree turn and are now saying that Lam and all the others were contracted only for 12 months and that their contracts expired on December 31, 2013.

And they can all re-apply again when the positions are advertised. If that is the case, why can’t Mal Meninga be also terminated? he questioned.

Besides that, Clause 10.1 of the contract only allows the Minister for Sport to terminate the agreement by notice to the other party.

“This means that the PNGRFL have no authority whatsoever to terminate Lam’s contract to Team Kumul Ltd,” he said. “Furthermore, by virtue of Clause 3.2 only the governing board comprising the Minister for Sport and other members appointed by the Minister is responsible for overseeing the operations of the Team Kumul,” he explained.

“Therefore, the PNGRFL has no jurisdictions whatsoever over the Team Kumul Ltd and its management and therefore, the decision by PNGRFL to sack Lam may be unlawful,” Numapo said. 

“There is a lot that the public wants to know about these two new entities called the Team Kumul Ltd and PNGRFL Foundation Ltd and the people behind them. 

“The public deserves to know who is really running the show,” Numapo said.