Tsaka calls for competitions to affiliate with governing body

By NATHAN WOTI
UPNG Journalism Student
PAPUA New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) chairman Sandis Tsaka wants all competitions to affiliate to the governing body for the administration and regulation of the sport in the country.
Tsaka said this during the launch of the Port Moresby North-East Ruby League on Thursday.
He said the PNGRFL already had a structure in place that should be followed by all the affiliates in the country. Tsaka said the PNGRFL board did not recognise any other offseason competitions apart from those that were affiliated.
“Offseason competitions are not sanctioned under the PNGRFL and that could cause problems especially when players, referees or match official get injured,” he said.
“Players normally put themselves in a very risky position when taking part in such competitions because those competitions are not sanctioned.”
Tsaka said the PNGRFL was not trying to prevent leagues from developing or players from playing, but it was important to be operating under on body that was internationally recognised.
He said this would also ensure that clear and proper pathways were used in the development of talent.
Tsaka said the programmes that the PNGRFL ran started from under sixes to U12s for children and from U13 to U19 for schoolboys. From there players join affiliated competitions.
He said after a player goes through those pathways they could be selected by Digicel Cup clubs, and to Hunters and eventually to the PNG Kumuls.
“So those are sort of programmes and pathways that we want young rugby league players to look at and get themselves involved in. It’s good for them as well as for the rugby league body in PNG,” he said.
Tsaka said over the last six years rugby league had grown and he thanked the affiliated competitions and officials, past and present, for being vital parts of the game and urged the support of every stakeholders to take the game forward.