Tsaka retains position

INCUMBENT PNG Rugby Football League chairman Sandis Tsaka has retained his seat for a fourth consecutive term during the league’s annual general meeting held in Lae on Saturday.
Tsaka received 32 votes while opposing candidate Tony Sipa received 13 during the election of new executives held at the Lae International Hotel.
Tsaka said PNGRFL’s 2024-2025 strategic plan attracted major sponsors and electing office bearers through the AGM brought trust and accountability to the stakeholders concerned.
“We are working on the new game development strategy on sports development that will include all women and Under-19 on which they will be included in the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup competitions,” Tsaka said. In a big statement for Southern leagues, Gulf Rugby League president Jacob Ivaroa ousted Gwaibo Mairi as the new Southern Confederate director.
Ivaroa, who had the backing of the Southern league presidents leading into the AGM in Lae, beat Mairi 10 votes to 3.
Ivaroa earlier said he had nothing personal against Mairi.
“I’ve given him undivided support and he’s been in that role since 2012,” Ivaroa said on the weekend.
“We are friends but for the interest of rugby league, I’m challenging him. The local leagues in the Southern Confederate are dying.”
New Guinea Islands’ confederate director Nicholas Lyons, Highlands confederate director Joe Tokam and Northern confederate director Robin Iveke retained their roles unopposed.
Forty-five presidents from affiliated leagues around the country were present during the AGM.