AFL returns to Hula

By ROBINSON LEKA
PORT Moresby AFL (POMAFL) launched its season with exhibition matches in Hula on Saturday in a bid to revive the sport along Central’s Rigo coast.
The exhibition on Saturday saw the three men’s games with mixed teams from Port Moresby, Hula and Gereka.
Women from POMAFL teams also played in a friendly.
POMAFL president Douglas Lai praised the return of AFL to Hula following a large turnout from villagers despite the wet conditions.
“Everyone enjoyed themselves today (Saturday) and regardless of the weather, the whole village and everyone who came from Moresby enjoyed it,” he said.
“POMAFL has come with good intentions and we’ve achieved it.
“We’re really proud that AFL has come to back to Hula.
“Villages nearby will know that AFL is still alive and going strong.
“We’ve put up permanent posts at the oval so now we’re urging the nearby villages to start their teams and hopefully we can have a competition running.
“The motivation to have games in villages was driven by last year’s national championships in Kimbe.
“As president of POMAFL, I went to Kimbe and I saw all the villages there taking part.
“So the success in Kimbe had prompted us to involve rural communities in Central.”
Lai said the successful staging of the matches in Hula was the first of many to come with POMAFL targeting greater participation from villages.
Meanwhile, POMAFL on Thursday received its certificate of approval from the Papua New Guinea Sport Foundation and will soon announce the start of its season.