Tsaka returned at AGM

By JACK AMI
THE Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League’s affiliates retained current chairman Sandis Tsaka for a three-year term during the annual general meeting in Lae on Saturday.
Tsaka was nominated by five leagues, Moresby South, Gaire, Port Moresby Rugby League, Motu Koita and Lae after nominations were closed last week.
PNG Hunters chairman Graham Osborne, PNGRFL director Don Fox, Hunters coach Michael Marum, National Rugby League in-country manager Mark Mom and PNGNRL chairman Sudhir Guru were all president at the AGM.
Tsaka and four directors Gwaibo Mairi (Southern), Russ Kaupa (Northern), Joe Tokam (Highlands) were returned to their roles while  New Guinea Islands have Alois Tobata as their director.
Tobata thanked former NGI director Horta Bosky for his services to the region and pledged to continue building the code in the region.
Tsaka’s return was supported unanimously by 41 affiliates.
Under his leadership the PNGRFL had witnessed progress and regained the confidence of the corporate sector, affiliates and stakeholders.
Several affiliates raised concerns that they had not been given nomination forms to nominate their candidates.
The AGM election was presided over by Morobe election manager Simon Sohecke and the successful candidates were sworn in by senior provincial Magistrate Pius Totil and assistant registrar Nick Sawong.
The three directors (Mairi, Kaupa and Tokam) vacated their seats and were recalled for the official declarations and signing of oaths witnessed by Totil and and Sawong.
Tsaka said 2017 would be a big year for PNGRFL with three World Cup games to be played in PNG.
The AGM was conducted without disruption with chairman Tsaka delivering his report along with the audited financial report were presented and accepted by the leagues.