Ariku Bay, PNG Bees take out medals at Masters Games

By KEVIN TEME in Adelaide
THE XIII Australian Masters Games in Adelaide ended on a high note with Ariku and PNG Bees bringing home medals from the bi-annual event.
Little-known Ariku Bay touch football team won the gold medal in the over 40-year division last weekend.
Coming from Koki’s famous Wanigela village, the Central team thrashed Adelaide Pirates 10-3 to walk away with the gold medal.
PNG Bees from the Port Moresby Corporate Touch settled for bronze in the 30-year category after defeating Adelaide Beers 7-2.
Prior to departure for Adelaide, coach Nixon Roa vowed to go one better this year and he achieved his dream in style with the Ariku side winning the final comfortably.
Ariku came close to winning goal in 2009 in Sydney but lost on a technicality. Bees showed class in the three-day tournament raising the bar for the PNG Touch Federation with various invitations now lined up for the coming months.
The man behind the scene, who has kept touch football alive in PNG, John Bonot was commended for his efforts in bringing the team to such a tournament and has now been invited to take part in the Victoria state championships.
“The onus is now for them to bring teams in the open men, women and mix divisions in this big state championship which is bigger than the masters championship,” John Katal, a senior level two referee in Victotria said.
Katal, who is from Pomio, East New Britan, is a teacher at one of the schools in Victoria and his married to an Australian
 “I am impressed with the performance of the boys and they can do well in the Victoria State championship,” Katal said.
PNG was represented by Ariku and PNG Bees.
Meanwhile the Bees manager, Simon Poiya said such exposure was good for the players as it would help them to be a better players.
Bees captain, Paul Paschalis praised his boys for a wonderful effort despite missing out on the gold play-off.
“ It’s a good start and a learning curve from the team and we will be looking forward to the invitation tournament in Victoria as well as the Pan Pacific Games in Gold Coast next year,” Paschalis said.
Paschalis said he was happy to lead the team and making it this far was an achievement not only for him as the captain but as a team that made everything possible despite a long trip from Brisbane to Adelaide via Sydney.
The team arrives on Friday.