16 years on, Black Orchids aiming to retain title amid challenges

By PARKER TAMBUA
IT’S been 16 years since Bougainville’s Black Orchids rugby 7s team was established and the team have attracted a huge following in the country ever since, coach Tsidom Semoso says.
Semoso told The National yesterday that the Sports Tok 7s defending champions had a huge challenge ahead this weekend to retain the cup.
He said his side knew what was expected of them and they would aim to meet the standards they set over the years.
“We’ve competed in many sevens tournaments around the country and we’ve made it to finals on many occasions, that’s why the team is so popular I guess,” Semoso said.
“We’ve travelled out to other provinces to compete in tournaments since the team was established in 2007. “The team was formed by the Bougainville regional member Peter Tsiamalili Jnr when he was PNG Rugby Union chief executive.
“On most occasions we finished as runners-up or we only make it to the finals but last year was huge for us when we won the Sports Tok 7s tournament here in Port Moresby.
“That was our first ever cup win away from home and it meant a lot to us and our supporters back home. “Our biggest challenge now is to retain that cup and I know we can do it. Confidence is there, the players are at their peak in terms of fitness but we cannot underestimate other teams because they also are here to compete.
“It would be a milestone achievement for us if we retain the Sports Tok cup for the second time.”
The former junior Pukpuk said Black Orchids was a flagship sporting team for Bougainville and a vehicle for developing rugby union in the region.
“We know how important it is for the development of rugby union in the region so we want to play to that expectation.” Semoso said the Black Orchids produced four PNG Pukpuks 7s players since 2007, including former Pukpuks captain Hubert Tseraha and Nathan Baramun, and they were keen to see more of their players make it to the national team.