By GABRIEL FITO
Grassroots sportsmen and women in East Sepik have been given until next Tuesday to pay up their levy fees of K500 or forget the PNG National Games, Sepik Grassroots Sports Council chairman Terence Moka has warned.
Moka issued the warning yesterday after many attempts by the Games council to secure sponsorship from the government and Business houses in Wewak yielded nothing.
He said Team Sepik urgently needs K100 000 for their accommodation, meals and uniforms for the games and that the expected K45,000 that would be collected as Levy fees will only cover the costs of travel to and from Lae for the Grassroots Olympic next month.
Moka said the council had also been trying to organise a fundraising dinner in Port Moresby at Grand Palace Restaurant however, they do not have the funds yet to secure the venue.
Moka said they have already approached the provincial government however, they are yet to respond to request for assistance.
“Therefore I am calling on all the grassroots sportsmen and women to immediately pay up and complete their levy fees by the given time so that we can start making arrangement to attend the games.
“Let us not wait for the government or the business community to do it for us so lets do it ourselves.
“As a true Sepik I am passion when it comes to represent East Sepik in sports and my heart cries out to these players as some of them it would be their first time for them to play in major sporting event and they will miss out,” Moka said.
He said their preparation will be wasted as some players are already in training in Wewak have been looking forward for this game for a very long time and it will be a very big disappointment for them.
If team Sepik does not attend this game the future of grassroots concept is in question because there is very poor support from all sectors in the province for such activities.
In another twist of events yesterday, Moka resigned as chairman of the Sepik Grassroots Council.
Moka said he decided to tender his resignation because there might be a capable person who could lure the government and business houses to assist when he takes over as chairman.