Wallen quits as president of rugby league club Magani

AFTER 42 years, Laipen Wallen is calling it quits as patron and president of Port Moresby Rugby Football League (POMRFL) club Magani.
Wallen, who was the president for Magani for 10 years, had committed a lot of his resources to see the club progress in Port Moresby’s premier rugby league competition.
The Engan and head coach Chris Enara had helped the club to support youths in rugby league.
He said Magani was a pioneer POMRFL club which had its fair share of ups and downs.
“We won the title in 2018 and we were unable to retain it in the following season as most of our players had committed their services to Digicel Cup side Central Dabari,” Wallen said.
From a humble beginning as a police officer, he developed an affection for the club as a player and administrator when he became a businessman.
Wallen’s rugby league career started with Blue Kumuls in Port Moresby’s second division in 1975.
He was then selected in 1980 for Southern Zone.
Wallen was the captain for the club’s second division team while John Wagambie was the skipper of their first-grade side.
He moved to Magani in 1978 and continued his playing career before becoming an administrator of the club. Wallen’s sons Nixon and Nelson play for the club.
Meanwhile, he commended Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League chairman Sandis Tsaka and POMRFL chairman Dr James Naipao for bringing the game to the next level.