Bena league affiliates with PNGRFL

THE rugby league mad Bena area of Eastern Highlands has affiliated to the PNG Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) and will conduct its first sanctioned competition this year.
The league was able to affiliate to the PNGRFL thanks to local businessman Obed Zebedee who funded the registration to allow young men and women in both upper and lower Bena to participate in the league.
“Firstly, there is no political connotation to the new affiliation of Bena Rugby League to the PNGRFL,” Zebedee said.
“After 26 years of playing offseason rugby league in Bena, I wanted to add value to local talents in the area by assisting their league to affiliate to the PNGRFL.”
Zebedee said he wanted to see the district’s youth have an opportunity to play rugby league in their own community through the Bena league.
He thanked the PNGRFL Highlands Confederation director Joe Tokam and his management for endorsing and accepting Bena Rugby League.
Currently, Zebedee is sponsoring the Afuya and Sigehere offseason competitions with K10,000 each.
He said eight men’s and eight women’s clubs would affiliate to Bena RL after their grand finals next week.
Zebedee said his officials were now in the process of negotiating and developing a rugby league ground for the league.
Goroka Technical College principal Lutogo Sogerifa and Bena Zetiro are locals who have also backed clubs in the Bena area.
PNGRFL representative Peter Starkey was present to witness the offseason matches and announcement of Bena RL’s affiliation to PNGRFL.
Sigehere results: B grade – Ginipigs 0 Fifiguto 0, 9U5 Sparkers v Oyasuruks (postponed); A grade – Oyasuruk 4 Seki Ihu 0, Fifiguto Raiders 1 Glagu Spider 0, Somex Sharks 0 Liomangani (2) 0;
Afuya results: B grade – Yogis 5 Liomagani (1) 0, Sisafe Tigers 2 Liomanagi (2) 0, Somex Sharks 0 Liomagani (2) 0.