IPATAS Cup for this year will be bigger and better with lucrative prize money of K20,000 for the first prize on offer with other packages at stack.
The working committee, compromising of chief executive officer Timothy Lepa and PNGRFL Highlands regional development officer Joe Tokam, has spearheaded and formalised all plans which include the dates, venues and other particulars.
According to Lepa who was with Tokam told The National in Mt Hagen yesterday that the executives had formalised a format which was similar to the previous one.
He said the dates were confirmed and games would be played from April 25-27 in Wabag and Porgera.
“This means all the games and finals will be only played in Wabag and Porgera. We will only allow the affiliated leagues to organise and send the teams to participate.
“It’s a PNGRFL sanctioned league, we will only allow registered players to take part because it’s the requirement from PNGRFL”, Lepa said, adding the executives will be very strict with their rules and guidelines.
He said the tournament would also be used for identifying and selecting 50% of the Enga-based players for the Toyota Mioks SP Cup team.
Another 50% of the remaining players will be non-Engans, who will be selected from the tournament and also from the trail matches set for Goroka, Kaintanu, Mt Hagen and Mendi and other parts of the country.
Lepa said the executives would visit Wabag and Porgera league venues sometime this week.
He also unveiled that the major sponsor Coca-Cola Amatil would have this year as their last year of sponsorship with K40,000.
Other minor sponsors including Ela Motors, Porgera Joint Venture Barrick, Panda Builders, Niugini Builders and other business houses, and patron Ipatas. Some have yet to confirm their contributions towards the competition.
Business houses can contact Tokam of PNGRFL in Goroka or Lepa on 4791025, B-Mobile 6824209.