Tkatchenko says country will be ready to host World Cup
The National, Monday January 13th, 2016
By HENRY MORABANG
SPORTS and Tourism Minister Justin Tkatchenko dispelled concerns that the 2016 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup is off target.
Tkatchencko, who assumed his second ministerial portfolio yesterday as Tourism Minister, assured the people and the soccer fans that the FIFA event was on target.
“We have funding moving forward now in the New Year,” Tkatchenko said.
“We got a lot of work on infrastructure development to do in the next seven or eight months before the World Cup in November.”
He said the procurement process had been done for lighting, stadium seating, an irrigation system and other equipment, which were taking the World Cup preparations in the right direction.
He said funding had already arrived from FIFA and the National Government so the Local Organising Committee could go ahead with the preparations.
Tkatchenko called for a team effort from all stakeholders to deliver the tournament.
He said the two individuals who were bearing the responsibility for delivering the World Cup on home soil were the PNG Sports Foundation executive director Peter Tsiamalili Jr and 2016 FIFA World Cup executive officer Seamus Martens.
“These two men have crucial roles and will be the driving force to ensure the competition in Port Moresby is a success,” he said.
“The Local Organising Committee have their staff in place,” he said.
Tsiamalili said work on the four stadiums was on target, including the training venues for the 16 visiting teams from around the world.
Martens made no secret that there were big challenges ahead.
With the progress going on with the support of Tkatchenko and Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, the 2016 World Cup executive officer said he was pleased to say they were on the right track.
“If I am able to stand on this grass at the National Football Stadium (formerly Lloyd Robson Oval) before the athletes, it shows that PNG is ready,” Martens said.
Tkatchenko said with the FIFA World Cup coming to PNG, the boost to PNG soccer would be invaluable.