PNGRFL urged to get local coach

NATIONAL Capital District Suburban Sports Association president and former rugby league hard man Billy Aki gave his stamp of approval on the sacking of Papua New Guinea Kumuls coach Adrian Lam.
However, he does not agree with the appointment of Mal Meninga as  the new Kumul coach, a job that should have been given to a national instead. 
“More better they (PNGRFL) should appoint a Papua New Guinean as the head coach and big Mal to play an advisory role,” Aki said.
“Michael Marum has done his time and has graduated as the most obvious choice. Why are we still not giving a Papua New Guinean full control to make decisions?”
“Michael’s knowledge of local players is unrivalled and the invaluable experience he will get at the Queensland Cup will broaden his ability.” 
Aki’s comments follows the PNG Rugby Football League board’s decision to remove Lam on grounds that the 43-year-old did not fit into the re-structuring of the new Kumul plans.  
Aki said he had put the question to the PNGRFL board during a meeting in Lae, sighting the Kumuls’ poor performance at this year’s World Cup was enough reason for adopt changes.
He said as the Team Kumul concept is being run as an entity and being funded by the people’s money: 
“I commend the PNGRFL and its board under new chairman Sandis Tsaka for making that business-minded decision.”
Aki said that the coaching staff had ample time to make those positional changes in the make-up of the Kumul team and to trial them well before the Kumuls’ World Cup campaign started.
“That was a glaring move that back-fired and it is fitting that those that are footing the bill call for heads to roll,” he added.
“Adrian Lam is now paying the price and that should set as an example for those that take on that job,” he said.
Aki said in pidgin that Lam was a former Kumul and he should know how the things are done in this country and what the expectations are. 
Aki believes Lam did not put much effort into motivating the players to put their bodies on the line for the country. 
He claimed that the home-grown players would have more reason to play with a much greater passion than overseas-based players.
Therefore some smart psychological sessions were needed to fire up the players to lift them mentally to perform with more gusto.  The National