Former Kumuls player, Bruce Mamando, has put his hand up to contest the Goilala Open Seat.
His endorsement got off to a rocky start, with disgruntled supporters of a former Goilala MP demanding his disqualification, on the grounds he is not from Goilala.
But Mamando remains determined to run with the “Goilala jersey” under the Peoples National Congress Party.
“Theres a lot of disgruntled and dissatisfaction …We see a lot of alternative Prime Ministers but there is no united front, so I have decided to run with the current government because that’s where the delivery is.”
Throngs of supporters rallied behind Mamando as he entered the Central Government House for his nomination today.
With a support like that, it was no surprise Mamando, who comes from a mixed parentage of Australia and Mt Hagen was not fazed by criticism from former Goilala MP, Mathew Poia, and his supporters.
They are concerned he shouldn’t be allowed to contest because he was not Goilala by blood.
Mamando, who has lived in Goilala for almost 14 years, argued that it was not where he came from that mattered.
“It is not necessary where you’re from, where you were born, but are you living in the district? Are you suffering with the people, are you trying your best to make a difference?”
He put emphasis on the Goilala’s deteriorating road conditions which has brought on multiple problems for its people.
He has indicated the core of his campaign is to ease the burden of transporting vegetable produce to the city, in order to alleviate the impoverished state of Goilala.
Mamando last ran in the 2015 Goilala by elections, finishing third.
The former PNG Kumuls player is confident he has enough support from the three LLG’s to take this race head on.
