Hockey to host World Cup qualifier

Normal, Sports
Source:

The National, Thursday September 3rd, 2015

 By HENRY MORABANG

PAPUA New Guinea will host the World League Qualifier for the Hockey World Cup in Port Moresby in July 2016.

PNG Hockey Federation president Kaluwin Potuan, pictured, revealed the news when thanking the National Government and stakeholders for their help in delivering the successful hockey tournament during the 2015 Pacific Games.

Potuan said six island countries; Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea plus Macau, Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore have expressed their interest through the regional body, the Oceania Hockey Federation.

The Manus man said this was first time the country would host the premier regional hockey competition as a qualifier for the World Cup to be played in India.

“PNG hosted the first Oceania Hockey Federation board meeting in Port Moresby during the Pacific Games which saw the president of the International Hockey Federation Leandro Negre attend,” Kaluwin said.

He said all these things could not have happened had government not supported hockey with new facilities.

“I want to thank the Government for buiulding the facility at Sir John Guise Stadium. 

PNG Hockey Federation contributed K500,000 to the facilities as well.

“Hockey is the only national federation who has contributed money to the construction of its facilities unlike other national federations,” he said. 

Potuan said the hockey federation has advised the government through Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko regarding the World League Qualifier Round 1, and the minister was very supportive of the idea. 

Tkatchenko gave an assurance to PNG Hockey Federation to host the World League titles in front of the Oceania Hockey Federation president Jill Jemmings and Negre.