Southern soccer goes technical

WITH most sports winding down operations for the year the opposite is true for Port Moresby Soccer Association who have embarked on a range of technical programmes aimed at improving the technical and administrative skills and expertise of sister associations in the Southern region.
Led by PMSA president Fabian Chow, the programmes will focus on enhancing skills in sports administration, refereeing, coaching and First Aid.
Associations which have already received the programme for implementation are Central Province Soccer Association and Manubada SA while POMSA clubs have also benefited.
Programme coordinator Scott Vavine is in charge of sports administration and coaching while refereeing will be overseen by PNGFA FIFA referees instructor Saliau Sosongan.
Some 70 participants have already passed out of this program and Vavine has commended Chow and his staff for the initiative and the support that they have provided

Finals time in remote Bundi
MCC Kurumbukari Rugby League in Madang is staging its off-season grand final this weekend. According to coordinator Chris Sari, interest in the game is high among the folks of this remote community at the Ramu Nickel Project’s special mining lease (SML) area.
The league is sponsored by the developer of the Ramu Nickel resource, China Metallurgical Construction Company which is operating in PNG as Ramu NiCo Management (MCC) Ltd. Sari said the grand final on Sunday will be a culmination of eight weeks of solid off-season rugby league involving five teams who have been playing in three divisions - Under 19, B Grade and A Grade.
The teams are Downer Storms, Balu Pirates, One Two Brothers, GG Warriors and Highway Spiders. The teams are playing for three trophies worth K2000 donated by MCC to the three divisions.
The grand final will be preceded by the knock-outs on Saturday. The Saturday knock-outs will see Storms taking on Spiders in U19 while Spiders play Brothers in B Grade while in A Grade Brothers play the winner of the wash-out game between Warriors versus Spiders.
These teams will play-off to take on those on stand by for grand final. They are Warriors in U19 and Storms in both B and A Grades.

Volleyball helps promote peace
KILIP community in North Waghi district, Western Highlands province, saw a decline in crime after a local volleyball competition started in the area three months ago. Daniel Wau, an employee of Telikom PNG based in Mount Hagen, initiated the competition to rehabilitate young people.
The competition attracted four men’s team and 10 women’s team and the final was played recently.
In the women’s division Dal Connection beat Waghi Fish 2-1 to win K100 cash, a trophy and a carton of softdrinks while the loser got K80, a trophy and a carton of softdrinks.
In the men’s final, Kuman Bullets beat Antap Antap boys 2-0 to win K100, a trophy and a cartoon of softdrinks while Antap Antap had to be content with K80, a trophy and a carton of softdrinks.
Hundreds of people as well as representatives from local firm Esco and Telikom PNG were present for the matches.
Telikom PNG became a sponsor of the competition by donating 50 T-shirts to the Dal Tapi Volleyball Association which made grand final more colorful.

Raukele first to pay up its dues
LBC Raukele Cricket Club in Lae is the first to pay its affiliation and registration fees, thanks to Hornibrooks Niugini Ltd. The kind assistance comes in the nick of time to avoid Lae Cricket Association president William Maha’s wrath.
Maha had called for all clubs to pay their affiliation fees by this week or face severe penalties. A cheque of K1,800 was presented to the club president, Kila Vuivagi by Hornibrooks managing director, Mel Lewis last Thursday.
Club treasurer and vice-president Percy Vagi, thanked Hornibrooks NGI on behalf of the players and executives for their assistance and said they were looking forward to winning the competition.
Only, he will not be around at the start of the new year. Vagi leaves for Port Moresby on work commitment. But his effort in securing the sponsorship will be cherished by his team mates.