Kayaking not on
LITTLE known Manus province put PNG on the world map in 1999 as the World champions in Kayaking ñ a code not included in this weekend’s third PNG Games. Only Manus, Port Moresby and West New Britain had confirmed teams in kayaking and had trained to participate at Game but they were told recently that kayaking was not included because not enough provinces had confirmed participation.
Manus Kayaking team manager Sylvestar Lum expressed concern that the code was not included. “We (PNG) through Manus are world champions in Kayaking and should be given the chance to participate and promote the code,” Lum said from Manus.

Ready for Madang Open
SPORTSMAN and women nationwide will converge on Madang this weekend to take part in the Madang Open Squash championships. According to organiser Kristine Seko, many squash players will take part including the South Pacific Games members such as Junior Madako.
Seko said it is expected to be another successful tournament with tremendous support generated from major sponsors, SP Brewery, TNT, Ela Motors, Brian Bell, Consort Express, RD Tuna, and Steel Industries. She said players should arrive in Madang tomorrow when the tournament will kick-off.
So far nominations have been received from players in Mount Hagen, Port Moresby, Lae, Goroka and as far as Tabubil.

DS Raiders dumped
KC BOMBERS beat DS Raiders 10-4 in the fourth round of Gomis off-season rugby league competition played at the Gomis Oval in Mount Hagen on Sunday.
DS Raiders prop Sent Kiap scored first through a dropped ball but the try was not converted.
Bombers replied with their try through hooker Dicky Bosco and that also was not converted for a 4-4 half time score. In the second half, Bombers scored through prop Max Toxy, a try which Bernard Mark converted for the 10-4 lead which they maintained right through to full time.
In the other A matches, Airport Tribesmen beat Tech 8-0, Warakum Bulls beat Southern Sons 12-8, Kongri beat Rooster 5-4, Young Guns beat Kala Warriors 11-8, Ela Sharks beat Nokondi 12-4, Rats beat Wild West 14-4 and Kala Knights beat Wild Waves 10-4.

Goroka shows appeciation
GOROKA Soccer Association has expressed gratitude to the Board of the semi professional soccer league, the National Soccer League (NSL) for staging the game at the National Sports Institute. Andrew Naikabam commended the chairman of NSL Board John Kapi Natto for his vision to take the game in the highlands by staging it in Goroka.
He said having such semi professional competition in the heart of the rugby league predominate area such as Goroka would help promote the skillful game of all in the highlands region. Naikabam came out after witnessing Welgris Highlander ñ a highlands-based semi professional soccer team which announced that they will use NSI as their home ground to stage their games.
He said there was no official kick-off in Goroka as most attention was given to Port Moresby for the double header match to launch the 2007 NSL season at Telikom Park.

Moresby squad picked
PORT Moresby Rugby Football Union has selected its final 15 members for its Sevens Team for the SP Brewery Export Lager National 7’s championships in Lae, Morobe province. Led by former Pukpuks Aiem Pilokos and current Douglas Guise, Cecil Davani and Aaron Miai, the City boys under coach John Pangkatana will be out to restore the lost pride.
The team is Dan Khaiser (Kone Sharks), Alex Pera (Kone Sharks), Aiem Pilokos (Wanderers), Cecil Davani (Harlequins), Monty Diave (Harlequins), David Eri (University), Joseph Stegman (Kone Sharks), Douglas Guise (Brothers), Sam Maminti (Kone Sharks), Adeck Naio (Defence), Ralph Susuve (University), Martin Kambayong (Wanderers), Andrew Samson (University), Adamson Kouga (Southern Chiefs) and Aaron Miai (Defence).

Kart Series winners
TEAM Bishop Brothers of Len Pianta and Chris Pevy found a winning combination to collect their maiden title in 2007 Port Moresby Kart Series championship recently. Competing under team format, both Pianta and Pevy made use of the absence of former champions Urss Cotti and Yiannis Nicolaou to win early races of the 2007 championship to put them on course to victory.