BFPNG to run Souths league

By PATRICIA KEAMO
NATIONAL Souths Basketball League committee has engaged the Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea to run its 2022 championship in Port Moresby.
League patron Johnny Yawari said the committee decided to take the approach to ensure the tournament was controlled by an impartial body. Yawari said the tournament was scheduled tentatively for the Easter weekend (April 15-18) with between 15 to 20 teams in men’s and women’s divisions expected to participate.
“We have asked the federation to come on board and assist the league to run the tournament because of unnecessary issues that happened in last year’s tournament in Goroka,” he said. “With the federation running the tournament, the teams will follow their rules and regulations, no questions asked.
“All the power is now with the federation so if any team or player instigate an issue, they will deal with parties accordingly.
“We want the tournament to run smoothly without any disruptions so the league committee will not be leading the competition, we will be spectators.”
Yawari said with large companies sponsoring the tournament, it was important that the tournament was run professionally.
He said organisers would not tolerate any individual or team who put undue pressure or intimidated officials during the tournament.
Yawari said this was in regards to an incident that happened last year in Goroka which resulted in the men’s finals being called off.
He said the arrangement with the sport’s governing body was to avoid a repeat of last year’s disruptions.
Meanwhile, Yawari added teams could now express their interest and register for the tournament.