Kickboxing still on
PAPUA New Guinea will have another chance to revisit the 2007 international kickboxing event between Rest of the World versus PNG on FOX TV sports. PNG and Director Operation Stanley Nandex said this is a milestone for sports for exposing PNG on the most followed TV sports station, Fox TV. Fox TV in-conjunction with Pacific View Production captured the kickboxing challenge last year at Sports Inn in Port Moresby. Nandex said such event to be televised throughout the world will be first of its kind for the country. The event is scheduled for replay on March 4 at 7.30pm Australia Time which will be 8.30pm PNG time. Nandex thanked PNG Government, National AIDS Council, NCDC, Southern Highlands Provincial Government, Ok Tedi, Shady Rests Hotel, Sports Inn, Bluff In Motel, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Star Mountain and Fubulian Catering Services who have made it possible through their sponsorship worth K550,000. The PNG Kickboxing will leave on Sunday to take part in two international tournament on March 3 and March 14 in Melbourne, Australia. These two events are lead up for the two major title fights ñ Commonwealth Title and the World Title, both will be hosted in PNG.

Top cricket clashes
THIS round of Port Moresby A grade cricket matches sees top four contenders Wesram Taora playing Mariners in what is practically a must-win match for Wesram. Tomorrow’s other match has new competition leaders SNS United aiming to kick on from first place on the ladder with a win over the second last TST Coasters. On Sunday Mobil STC will clash with KCC in what is practically a fight for fourth spot. In the other match of the day number three team BNG Poreporena play an equally determined Raukele who have looked anything but premiership material in recent outings. The official team standings after 18 completed rounds are as follows: SNS United (38), Raukele (37), BNG Poreporena (36), Mobil STC (35) in the top four while KCC (34) and Wesram Taora (31) still have a better than even chance of stealing a top four spot should results go their way. TST Coasters (13) and Mariners (12) bring up the rear.

Top volleyball games
THE battle is on in the preliminary finals of the Hohola Volleyball Association this weekend. In the women’s B division (trophy) finals, Panthers taken on Taraga Dragons on court one while Border Titans face off with Casa on court two. The winners of both games will proceed to the grand final next weekend. The A division will feature the clash of the titans when Ebony play Iariva in the midday clash tomorrow while the main match will be between top teams Yamandu and Namona on court one. In the men’s, the midday game sees Iariva take on a much improved Panthers outfit while the main match will be between Ebony Blackwoods and Hohola 3 Namona Raiders.

Still on the road
PORT Moresby road runners will meet behind the Holiday Inn tomorrow for their usual three races - 1.5km, 3.3km and 6.6km events. With the drop in Port Moresby temperature in recent days, the number of runners completing the two-lap 6.6km event is expected to be larger than normal. All are welcome to run, and it is still only 20t to participate.

Corporate Nines aid
THE management of Nambawan Super Ltd has come to the aid of their Corporate Nines team with brand new uniforms. This should release the burden of hiring uniforms which has been an expensive exercise for the last three months. The uniforms were presented at the Nambawan Super Ltd boardroom at Era Rumana building yesterday by John Auna, the general manager of member services department. The team has been hiring uniforms since November last year for their games but that won’t be the story anymore as funds were allocated for the uniforms through the company’s members’ well-being programme that caters for activities such as sports.

IRB meeting here
PORT Moresby will play host to the IRB Oceania meeting on March 31. A first for Rugby PNG the meeting of presidents from the different governing boards around the region will see various issues discussed.
According to Rugby PNG boss Graham Osborn. the meeting will serve as a forum to hold discussions on the development of rugby union in the region as well as changes to rules and also to highlight the need for countries like PNG to have access to a higher level of competition.
ìWe have to develop rugby especially in the juniors because thatís how to raise standards. Under 19, 21 and 23 levels and A Grade levels need to be developed further,î Osborn said when asked about the implications for rugby union in PNG.

PNG referees qualify
TWO Papua New Guinea senior soccer referees have been appointed by the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) to officiate games in the men’s U23 Olympic qualifiers in Fiji on March 1-9. They are Job Minan and Hillary Ani of Port Moresby Soccer Association.
Minan is a world class certified FIFA referee and Hillary Ani will leave next Thursday for Fiji to meet with the other officials and the participating teams.
Two other PNGFA referees, Paul Jan of Mount Hagen Soccer Association and Inimbu Pabia from Wau Soccer Association were awarded FIFA assistant referee’s batches this year. PNG FIFA-recognised referees are Job Minan, Salaiau Sosogan, Hillary Ani (PMSA), Peter Paliwa (Bulolo), Gidas Bayung (Lahi), Paul Jan (Mt Hagen) and Inimbu Pabia (Wau).

Clubs yet to pay
SOME of the oldest clubs in Lae Rugby League have not paid their club affiliation fees for this year. They include Magani, Panthers, Brothers, and Morobe Tigers.
Spiders, a glamour club of the 1980s, have yet to affiliate togethers with Crushers. The six clubs have been urged to pay before participating in the pre-season nines competition this weekend.
Lae league executive officer David Atua said yesterday that only four clubs have meti all the league requirements to take part. They aare Tent City Parasites, 14BPirates, Royals and 13ABulldogs.

Tigers claim minor title
TIGERS have claimed the Lae softball minor premiers flag after disposing off a determined Telikom challenge 2-0 in a tightly contested encounter in the Lae men’s softball at Niall Reserve last weekend. Telikom could not find the right combination to counter attack the Tigers as they clawed their way through to claim the 2008 minor premiership flag.
Elsewhere, Islands Salvage Manolos upstaged Burma Raiders 2-1 on Saturday, Burma Raiders turned the tables on Telikom 4-0, and Islands Salvage Manolos settled for a scoreless draw with minor premiers Tigers.

Helele retains post
INCUMBENT Justin Helele was re-elected as president of Bougainville soccer federation at the bi-annual general meeting held last week.
Helele heads the new executive which comprise of Joseph Maineke (Senior Vice President), Hatshire Manhi (Junior Vice President), Moses Kivaroy, (GS), and Eric Riku as treasurer.
The meeting also endorsed the appointment of four technical and administrative coordinators for the four zones in the province who will help the new executive to further enhance and develop the code in the province. The coordinators were Thomas Pokambut (South Bougainville), Steven Topesi (Central Bougainville), Michael Katoa (North Bougainville) and Francis Semoso (Buka/Atolls) of the province.

Dogs in front
MIX DOGS of Tokarara are currently barking on number on spot in the Hohola Off-season Rugby League. Tokarara boys snatched to top spot with 29 points ahead of Tia Broncos of Hohola (26) while Omaki Namona are third (24) followed by Sikin Brothers (24).
Malipin Brothers, Texas Melona Hohola and Dorido Panthers are all 22 points while Mutrus Brothers on 20 points. Hoks 5 Dragons, BP Towers and The Titans are looming outside the top eight.

Taekwondo clears report
TAEKWONDO PNG through President Peter Miria issued a public statement in response to the setting up of rival taekwondo body PNG Taekwondo Union which was launched on Feb 8 at the Sir John Guise Complex in Port Moresby. “Taekwondo PNG (TPNG) under my leadership (Peter Miria) along with qualified World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) Sport Taekwondo instructor Edward Kassman and Provincial Executives are still in tact as an organisation,” the statement read.
Miria was responding to “misleading” information circulated by former president Jamuga Stone. Miria said TPNG is recognised by the PNG Sports Federation, PNG Olympic Committee Taekwondo Federation, World Taekwondo Federation and Oceania Taekwondo Union as the official Taekwondo body in PNG.