SP Cup rush is on
PORT Moresby Vipers officials are working around the clock to get their franchise team re-admitted to the SP Cup rugby league competition this year.
A source close to Port Moresby Vipers indicated yesterday that the PNG National Rugby League Board has given them until next Tuesday, March 18, to pay half of the required K80,000 affiliation fee.
The source said it was highly likely that the Port Moresby Vipers will get the green light for admittance into the SP Cup competition, together with a New Guinea Islands-based team.
Port Moresby Rugby Football League chairman Solomon Ravu was uncertain about the details yesterday and could not comment. Ravu said he understood that there was a working committee in place to lure possible franchise owners to support Vipers, the flagship of Port Moresby Rugby Football League.
Earlier in the week, Enga Governor Peter Ipatas expressed concerns about a possible decline in the number of teams taking part in this year’s SP Cup semi professional competition.
He said Port Moresby had one the toughest competitions in the country yet it was sad to note that there were no franchise owners coming forward to support Vipers.
Ipatas challenged the PNGRFL and the PNG National Rugby League Board to do something quickly stopping the decrease in SP Cup teams.
There is a strong indication that Kimbe Taur will be part of the 2008 SP Cup competition ñ bring two teams from New Guinea Island region.
Interim chairman Horta Boskey said PNG National Rugby League Board has given him the green light to recruit players for his team.
While a 27-man training squad has been assembled in Kimbe, Boskey was on the shopping spree in Port Moresby last week and was known to have recruited Thomas Ninkama, Toua Kohu and Kenneth Livayong.
Boskey said Ninkama and Kohu play for the Port Moresby Bulldogs while Livayong plays for the Goroka Lahanis.
Taur have already acquired the services of local boy and Agmark Guria halfback Jessie Alunga.
Some of the key players recruited were Baltasar Lome and Henry Wartovo who were regular faces in the Agmark-sponsored team while others are John Willie (2007 NGI rookie fullback), Max Meia (Kimbe Bulls- Former Kumul), Wartovo, Peter Tepra (2007 NGI rep), John Mong (Former Junior Kumuls) Chris Lagisa Jnr (2007 PNG Mosquitoes, Lucas Samak (former Gurias), Kevin Tom (Highlanders and PNG Pukpuks).
Attempts to contact the chairman of PNGNRL Board Thomas Higgins to comment on SP Cup matters were unsuccessful.
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