Two-way battle

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The National, Wednesday 29th May 2013

 By JACK AMI

ONLY two candidates, Don Fox and John Numapo, are contesting the PNG Rugby Football League chairman’s seat.

PNG Rugby League Foundation CEO Brad Tassell, who is also the caretaker administrator for PNGRFL, said as close of business last week, only Fox and Numapo had been nominated for the chairman’s seat.

The deputy-chairman has only one nominee in Tsandis Saka while for the four zone directors, only Gwaibo Mairi (Rigo league) will be challenged by Peter Oresi (Port Moresby league) for the Southern seat. The other incumbents Russ Kaupa (Northern), Horta Boski (New Guinea Islands) and Joe Tokam (Highlands) will go through the formality of being appointed.

He said of 60 leagues throughout the country – Southern region 20 affiliated members, Highlands 17, New Guinea Islands 11 and Northern 12 – all have met the requirements and are eligible to cast their votes during the annual general meeting in Lae this Friday.

Tassell did not reveal names of the 60 associations, amidst speculation that they could compromise themselves. 

He said Minister for Sports, Pacific Games and National Events Justin Tkatchenko had also been invited as a guest to witness the event.

Others include Tas Bateri from the International Rugby League Federation, Partners legal representative Robert Bradshaw who drafted the new constitution and the PNG Electoral Commission. Their presence would enable the voting to be conducted transparently.

He said once the appointments have been made, the term in office will be for three years under the new revised constitution. 

The 60 affiliated leagues will have the final say through their voting powers to choose who they want.

Meanwhile the four leagues in Hela province (Hulia, Komo, Koroba and Tari) are casting their votes for Fox to be the chairman and Saka as vice-president.

Tari league’s president Rex Humbi, Komo’s Max Malira, Koroba’s Mark Bibilia and Hulia’s Gibson Muli confirmed their allegiance.

They said they backed Fox he has proven himself for the last six months as the PNGRFL interim chairman.

Humbi said leagues in Hela wanted to move forward and not witness past experiences where smaller centres were not benefitting from developments at the national level.