Soccer, rugby to sub-lease mini-stadiums

TWO newly-built mini stadiums at Bava Park and the Sir John Guise Stadium complex will be sub-leased to PNG Rugby Football Union and the PNG Football Association.
Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko yesterday announced this while commenting on preparations for the upcoming Federation of the International Football Associations Under-20 Women’s World Cup next month.
The World Cup will run from Nov 13-Dec 3.
Tkatchenko said the mini stadiums would be sub-leased to the respective sports after the World Cup as part of the Fifa legacy programme. The field at Bava Park would be also used by touch football.
The signing of the sub-lease agreements is expected to be done when the Fifa World Cup ends on Dec 3.
Tkatchenko reminded the respective sporting bodies that the land remained the property of the National Government.
“It must be remembered that the Bisini Sports Complex land was acquired under the Compulsory Land Acquisition Act for development in preparation for last year’s Pacific Games.”
After the Pacific Games, PNG Sports Foundation established the National Sports Trust Limited (NSTL) to administer the sporting venues.
The minister said the PNGSF would sit down with these two sports to sign sub-lease agreements after the Fifa World Cup next month.