10 from Southern confirmed for Ipatas Cup challenge

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The National,Friday13January 2012

TEN teams from the Southern region will be competing in the Ipatas Cup on Feb 17-19.
They are Popondetta Butterflies, Paga Panthers, Morata Swans, Pom Diwai, Rigo Raiders, Hisiu Knights, Lagai Brothers, Kadeboro, Central and West.
CCIC chief executive officer Timothy Lepa was in Port Moresby on a fact-finding mission, said on Wednesday that Rigo Rugby League Association president Mairi Gwabo would be in charge of the competition.
Lepa said the Enga provincial government would also be assisting a potential talent identified from the competition to make it up the ranks in the ranks in his rugby league career.
“The executives have taken a new initiative to further develop the game by supporting any player taking part in the Coca-Cola Ipatas Cup. If selected by any franchise club he will be groomed and may hopefully make the PNG Kumuls,” he said.
“We will provide K20,000 for him to travel to England and have a trial with a team there. We have talked to Stanley Gene and he will be present during the games here.”
Lepa said K10,000 would go to the winners in each region and a ticket to play in the finals in Lae.
He said the K10,000 would be a gold pass, including all expenses paid for by the Ipatas Cup organisers during the finals.
Lepa noted that K200,000 would be on offer – the cup winners will walk away with K100,000 and the runners-up will settle for K50,000.
Gwabo thanked the Ipatas Cup management, especially Lepa for having the trust and confidence in him and his committee to participate in the competition.
The committee is made of officials from clubs taking part in the tournament.