Club surprised after missing out as PNGRFL Board decision remains firm with no new entries for the 2021 Digicel Cup competition
By NOBERT KOKE
THE Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) Board decision to reject three of the teams that made a bid to participate in the 2021 Digicel Cup competition has not gone down well with one of the bidders.
Sepik Pride, one of the team that submitted their entry bid when PNGRFL made the announcement late last year were surprised and shocked to learn of the board’s decision which was made known to them on Friday, Feb 05. The other two unsuccessful bidders were the Mountain Fruit Wine Chimbu Warriors and the Motu-Koitabu Lagatois.
The East Sepik team like all other franchise in the competition is fully aware of what it takes to participate in the semi-professional competition and according to Bradley Simon ‘they have ticked most of the boxes.’
The former Argmark Rabaul Gurias enforcer who has been very instrumental in setting up the foundation of the Sepik Pride bid team was shocked when he got the news that their bid was unsuccessful.
He said he can not comment on the criteria forwarded to them by the PNGRFL; however he is sure they have met the required criteria.
“If I have to be honest Sepik Pride have ticked most boxes than other current Franchise in the comp right now, but what transpire with the decision is at the board level and I’ll let them explain to our people themselves,” he said.
Simon said Sepik Pride did all that was asked by PNGRFL and met all the requirements that was needed.
“Only one thing that I was told about was sponsorship backing. But for Sepik pride we had over 10 business houses fighting for naming rights, but all we had was for the bid to be successful and we can get them on board. No company can put in money, what if the bid is not successful? The investment would be a failure. We had the most backing and Sepik Pride was looking to be one of the big clubs if we were given the chance,” he said.
Asked if such decision by the PNGRFL Board was forthcoming, Simon replied with a big ‘NO’.
“We didn’t expect this decision. Not at all. Iam shocked. I have done all I can over the last five years to cement Rugby league in Sepik. But against that I respect their decision. I have so much respect for PNGNRLC. I love the competition and this was not just us wanting to get a team into Digicel Cup but this was about giving hope to our youths, opportunity and a second chance to see life differently. I just wish PNGNRL had seen it the way we did,” he said.
