21 participate in ESP tourney

Normal, Sports
Source:

The National, Monday 28th November 2011

By GABRIEL FITO
TWENTY-one teams are currently participating in the East Sepik provincial grassroots tournament at the Sausse local level government in Yangoru-Saussia district.
Provincial sports and cultural minister David Kausik kicked off the event last Thursday witnessed by tournament chairman Terence Moka.
However, East Sepik Governor Peter Waranaka Wararu, who allocated K20,000 for the event, did not attend the opening ceremony.
He is expected to officiate at the closing ceremony later this week.
The tournament had attracted teams from Ambunti, Maprik, Wewak, Yangoru-Saussia and Angoram who are competing in soccer (men) and volleyball (women).
This marks the fifth year of the challenge.
Moka said the tournament provided an avenue for raw talents in the rural areas to represent their province at the PNG Games scheduled for Kokopo, East New Britain, next year.
He said the men’s soccer and women’s volleyball teams would be selected from the tournament.
He added they would also be given the opportunity to compete at the national, regional and international level.
Rather than making the selection process difficult, Moka said organisers would allow the winners in the men’s and women’s teams in both games to gain automatic entry in the province at the PNG Games.
Kausik thanked the organising committee chairman Paul Hari and his team for hosting the tournament.
He also said that Angoram will host the next provincial grassroots tournament in 2014.