World Cup hitch

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The National, Wednesday February 17th, 2016

 By HENRY MORABANG

MAJOR cash-flow and budget constraints could be the stumbling block for the country as it prepares to host the premier sporting event, the 2016 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup.

Work on the main sporting facility for the event, the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium, which is supposed to be the home of football in Papua New Guinea has gone into recess for some unknown reason. The three-stage development of the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium cost K120 million, via a public-private partnership arrangement with the National Government and the developer, Curtain Brothers. 

 According to the lease agreement, Curtain Bros put up K60 million, while the Government injected K60 million for the SHMS project. 

The visit by this paper to the stadium yesterday found no construction work of any kind taking place.  

It is the same story for the 17 training venues across the national capital that will be used by the visiting teams, including host PNG.

The identified venues are Gerehu Secondary, Gordon Secondary, Port Moresby National High, Port Moresby International School, Bisini One, Bisini Two, Bisini Three, Bisini Four, Sir John Guise 1, Sir John Guise 2, Sir John Guise 3, Murray Barracks, UPNG Oval 1, UPNG Oval 2, IPA 1, IPA 2 and National Football Stadium 1. Despite an assurance given by Sports and Tourism Minister Justin Tkatchenko that the work would start soon, construction and upgrading is yet to start on any of the aforementioned sites.

The government had earmarked K11m for upgrading of the SHMS, including work on the 17 venues. 

At a recent press conference at the NFS, Tkatchenko denied reports that Curtain Bros had in fact abandoned the project due to lack of funding coming from the State.

Tkatchenko concluded that the developer had to be working at their Motukea site in the city’s west.

The National was reliably informed that Curtain Bros was party to an agreement submitted to FIFA to help the local organising committee host the FIFA event and if it failed, they were liable for court action to be taken against them.

Attempts to contact Curtain Bros spokesman Justin McGann via email and on telephone were unsuccessful.