Wallen hails Tsaka for developing rugby league

By JACK AMI
VETERAN rugby league administrator Laipen Wallen has praised Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) chairman Sandis Tsaka for helping develop the game over the past six years.
“Sandis is perhaps the best chairman to have led PNG rugby league to the next level with the stakeholder support he has amassed since he took office,” said Wallen, who was the president of Port Moresby Rugby Football League oufit Magani for 10 years.
“In my 42 years of experience in rugby league, the SP Hunters, PNG Orchids, schools rugby league and Kumuls have come to gain the confidence of stakeholders.
“This is why the corporate sector is investing in rugby league in the country off the back of Tsaka’s professional approach.”
Meanwhile, Wallen said the deferral of the PNGRFL annual general meeting from March 7 to Mar 28 due to affiliation irregularities was shameful.
“We should not involve politics in the election process as this will destroy the image and future of rugby league in the country,” he said.
“Politicians should not involve or interfere with rugby league or sports as this is the wrong mentality.”
Wallen said Tsaka was a professional administrator who knew how to develop an organisation.
“I don’t understand why affiliates are lobbying to remove or vote Tsaka out after he brought rugby league to the next level,” he said.
Wallen said during Tsaka’s two-term reign, his approach in the international arena had brought a lot recognition and credibility to PNG rugby league. He said Tsaka’s record spoke for itself.