PNG Chiefs Supremo Targets Coach

Michael Chammas, the newly appointed General Manager of PNG Chiefs, says his top agenda is to appoint a head coach.

Chammas, a seasoned NRL journalist, was appointed to the managerial position to oversee the Chiefs’ football department.

The 2018 Australian sports award winner said the board had less than two years to prepare the franchise, but his first agenda is to scout a coach.

“Our priority is to appoint a coach. We want to make sure that we get the best coach possible by working with the NRL and ARLC,” Chammas explained.

“Once we have the coach set up, we will try to recruit some players. So, hopefully in the next couple of months, we can make some progress on that.”

A few coaches had shown interest in securing the coaching role. However, Chammas stressed that time is of essence, noting they would immediately see the options available to select the ideal candidate.

“Probably the NRL will have a large say in the coach, but we will go through the right process. A lot of coaches want to coach in PNG, but we have to make sure that we appoint the best coach,” he said.  

“It’s a unique job; it’s not just coaching a footy team. It’s to make sure the players, their wives, and kids are happy.

“A lot of coaches have shown interest in coaching the Chiefs. Jason Demetriou and Adrian Lam have put their hands up. There’s no shortage of quality coaches, but we will sit down with the ARLC and pick the best one.

“We need a coach soon. We don’t want to muck around and have a coach in six or seven months. We need a coach in the next two or three months.” 

Beyond coaching, the PNG Chiefs board will be racing against time to construct a center of excellence and players' village compound, recruit players, and design the team logo.