PNG Players still waiting for UK Visa's

[mikail-eagle]

http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/62429

English test the obstacle to Super League dream

Source:
The National, Friday January 10th, 2013

PAPUA New Guinea pair Francis Paniu and Enoch Maki (pictured right) are in jeopardy of seeing their moves to Hull KR derailed by visa problems.
The duo remain stuck in PNG and have been told it will be a further two months at least before any possible arrival.
Having missed an English proficiency test called an IELT in November because they were in the United Kingdom for the World Cup, the pair as well as fellow Kumuls Mark Mexico and Jason Tali must now until mid February.
The tests are independently administered by the Port Moresby International School with the results going to the British High Commission for evaluation.
Rovers announced they had signed the 24-year-old pair on one-year deals during the recent World Cup, subject to the proviso they would be granted the relevant paperwork.
Obtaining that necessary paperwork is, however, proving a stumbling block, with the proposed moves in real danger of falling down as a result.
Prop Maki featured in two of the three games the Kumuls played at the World Cup, but winger Paniu didn’t feature as they bowed out of the competition at the first hurdle.
The Western Highlander said it was frustrating but he and the other players, who are in the Queensland Cup side SP Papua New Guinea Hunters training camp at the moment, were just being patient and hoping to get the visas requirements out of the way as soon as possible.
Although they arrived in the UK as members of the PNG squad, the duo are struggling to get through the red tape which will allow them to be employed as Super League players.
Those difficulties mean they have yet to check in at Craven Park.
While the rest of the Robins’ squad are being put through their paces ahead of the start of Super League, Maki and Paniu (pictured above) remain in their homeland trying to sort their visas.
One of the most significant dates in the application process will arrive next month when the pair have to undergo an English test.
If they pass the written and spoken test, they will stand a far higher chance of being allowed to work in the UK.
Even if they do pass, the duo will be a long way behind the rest of their team-mates in terms of fitness when they eventually land.
Maki has a number of quality props ahead of him in the pecking order, including Mick Weyman and Justin Poore, who have both played State of Origin during their NRL careers.
Paniu is in a similar, as he has Dave Hodgson, Super League’s fourth most prolific try scorer, ahead of him, as well as the returning Ben Cockayne.
Coach Craig Sandercock is fully aware of the obstacles in front of the Papua New Guinean pair regarding their visas, and has not planned them into his thoughts for the new season.
If they do arrive, Maki and Paniu are expected to spend their early days playing for partner club Gateshead, who will be coached next season by Stanley Gene in the Championship.
Gene was one of the first PNG players to pull on a Rovers shirt back in 1996 following a string of appearances in the World Cup.

 

[mikail-eagle]

Dewsbury Rams have already given up on their unnamed signing.

http://www.loverugbyleague.com/news_14010-dewsbury-give-up-on-png-star.html


Dewsbury have been forced to give up in their pursuit of a Papua New Guinea World Cup star.


The unnamed centre had problems obtaining a visa, and as such the Rams have pulled out of the signing, instead focusing their attention on an unnamed UK-based centre with Super League appearance.

In a statement on their official website, the club said: "Dewsbury Rams plan to sign an overseas centre for 2014 have unfortunately fallen through despite all the club's best efforts to make things happen.

"The player has to undertake and pass an English test prior to be granted the Visa but unfortunately this raised a number of issues that would have delayed the player's arrival until after the start of the season which was far from ideal since he would also have had to undergo an equivalent pre-season before he could be considered for selection.

"Unfortunately PNG players do seem to suffer more than most from Visa regulations and although the player met all the RFL criteria the deal couldn't be completed.

"There is talk of the Visa regulations for PNG professional sports players being revised to enable more of them to fulfil their potential on a higher stage than they can do so at the moment but unfortunately this doesn't help either the club or the player in this instance."

Hull KR have also experienced problems in gaining visas for PNG pair Francis Paniu and Enoch Maki, who they signed during the World Cup, when the Kumuls were based in Hull.

But there is good news at least for one Papua New Guinea star - Larsen Marabe has secured his visa to enable him to play in the Championship for Whitehaven in 2014, where he will line-up alongside international team-mate Jessie-Joe Nandye.

 

[mikail-eagle]

http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/62721

Mexico appeals to sports minister

Source:
The National, Thursday January 16th, 2014
By PETER SEVARA JR

BRADFORD Bulls bound Papua New Guinea rugby league forward Mark Mexico is desperate to have his visa requirements cleared before the English Super League season starts next month.
“I am just waiting until February and that is when Super League season starts.
“It is the PNG immigration which is delaying my visa approval,” the Kumuls World Cup forward said yesterday.
“I have fixed all my requirements but am waiting for PNG immigration.”
He sent an urgent plea to Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko to step in and help “because it is through politics and I know political power will get me through”.
However he is not the only PNG player, who has attracted interest from English clubs and still stranded at home because of visa issues.
Francis Paniu and Enoch Maki, signed up by Hull Kingston Rovers during the World Cup, are facing similar problems. Another Kumul Larsen Marape, who has been linked to Whitehaven, is still in the country awaiting a visa.
“So instead of waiting for things to happen and getting worried, I’m in the Q-Cup training team to keep myself fit while waiting for PNG Immigration to send me the visa requirements to complete,” Mexico said at the Hunters’ training camp in Bomana.
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) assesses the English language proficiency of people who want to study or work where English is used as the language of communication.
“It is a requirement from UK (United Kingdom) that I complete an English test to accomplish my English speaking skills, because under my contract with Bradford Bulls, I will be working and playing at the same time.
“I have the other requirements done but I am waiting for the PNG immigrations regarding the English test. “I’m keeping myself fit and staying positive that things will work out eventually, say probably next month everything should be okay.”

 

[mikail-eagle]

Larsen Marabe is the lucky one. He got hist visa last week. Was probably easy for him because a couple of years ago go he spent a season at Featherstone Rovers.

http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/sport/...und-world-cup-star-marabe-gets-visa-1.1109042

PNG'S WHITEHAVEN BOUND WORLD CUP STAR MARABE GETS VISA

Thursday, 09 January 2014
Whitehaven's latest World Cup star Larsen Marabe has received his visa and the countdown to his arrival at the Recre is underway.

The 27-year-old featured in two of Papua New Guinea’s three matches in the end-of-year tournament, and Haven are now looking at flight availability from capital Port Moresby. “We are keen to get him over as soon as possible,” said chief executive Barry Richardson.

“He has been on the phone practically every day and I’m really pleased that is has all been sorted out fairly quickly.

“It’s really refreshing that he seems so excited about coming to Whitehaven. By all accounts he is a strong, robust forward, and he has been prominent for Papua New Guinea over recent years.”

His PNG team-mate Jessie Joe Parker is still awaiting his visa but as a seasoned international who proved one of his country’s top performers in the World Cup, no delays are anticipated.

Ideally, coach Dave Woods would like both players on board ahead of forthcoming friendlies against Gateshead and St Helens.

Thunder look set to be without ex-Haven second-row Rhys Clarke for their Recre visit after he suffered a broken leg.

Clarke made 27 appearances for Haven in 2013, missing just three games, and he was given the chance to extend his stay. But the Geordie opted to play closer to home to focus on his RL coaching business.

“He has been training really well and I had seen a few things in him to suggest that he would be a really good player this season,” said Gateshead coach Stanley Gene.

“His attitude had been spot-on and hopefully he will heal up quickly and be back soon.”

 

[Evil Homer]

The language test is f**king stupid, I remember this is what stopped Noilea and another Fiji player from coming over here after the 2008 WC.

I guess Tali was the player that Dewsbury were interested in. Mexico joining Bradford hasn't been reported over here and they are supposedly having financial problems, so hopefully that doesn't affect things.

 

[Bronco Rob]

These Visa problems are a significant deterrant in clubs signing players from Fiji and PNG which needs to be addressed.

 

[Kurt Angle]

Do EPL players require English tests?

These are international players, they have played the highest level of their sport, for their country.

How can a PNG player achieve higher honours?

A disgraceful matter from the start.

 

[Evil Homer]

Do EPL players require English tests?

These are international players, they have played the highest level of their sport, for their country.

How can a PNG player achieve higher honours?

A disgraceful matter from the start.

Soccer clubs don't usually sign players from countries like Papua New Guinea. It is very difficult to get visas for players from outside the EU, a lot of the time players end up getting signed and then loaned out to clubs in other countries for two or three years while their visa applications are processed. So it's not unique to RL, but obviously football clubs have much better resources and organization than RL so are better equipped to deal with it.

 

[nadera78]

Soccer clubs don't usually sign players from countries like Papua New Guinea. It is very difficult to get visas for players from outside the EU, a lot of the time players end up getting signed and then loaned out to clubs in other countries for two or three years while their visa applications are processed. So it's not unique to RL, but obviously football clubs have much better resources and organization than RL so are better equipped to deal with it.

Even so, you quite often see a PL club sign a foreign player, non-EU, and then he's playing within a week or two. It always seems to take RL clubs months. Maybe there are different schemes?

 

[Evil Homer]

http://www.hullkr.co.uk/club/news/article/png-duo-released-by-robins

Maki and Paniu deals cancelled.

 

[deal.with.it]

Faaaark

 

[jim_57]

Oh well at least they are going back to the Hunters. They don't have to play Internationals now for a chance to get noticed.

 

[parraparraparra]

Devastating. This needs to end.

 

[southernairliebird]

As mentioned earlier, how come - apart form Money talks - soccer can sign a player and the visa appears almost instantly but for RL it is a long drawn out issue.