Angoram holds soccer tourney to bring unity

A SOCCER tournament is being held in Angoram in a bid to create unity among the district’s five local level governments and expose talented footballers.
The Salio Waipo Soccer Tournament, which ends next month, is being held at the Angoram Town Oval.
A total of 32 teams –24 men and eight women’s sides – are competing in the tournament which started on Boxing Day.
Angoram MP Salio Waipo said the tournament was aimed to keep everyone, especially youths, busy during the festive period.
He said the event also aimed to unite people from the five Local Level Governments of Angoram, East Sepik.
Waipo said there was a lot of raw talent competing in the tournament.
“Social issues like homebrew consumption are taking a toll on young people in every community,” he said. “Angoram, like other districts, has raw talent in soccer. Selectors need to come to remote areas and districts to pick players.
“I was a soccer player before becoming an MP. My daughter also represented the country in soccer.”
Tournament chairman Russell Benson Apina said involving youths in sports would help address law-and-order issues.
“There are many youths who resort bad activities when they have nothing to do,” he said.
“They need to keep themselves occupied through sports during Christmas.”