Briefs

Honour before money in 7s
THE 2009 MRDC PNG Rugby Union Sevens  that brought together an abundance of flair and talent from around the country over the weekend, ended on Sunday, but left the hard task to the board of selectors. MRDC’s Augustine Mano, in his closing remarks at the presentation ceremony, delivered the “punch line” for aspiring players, officials and the rugby fraternity, after the two-day showcase. “This event should not be about the money, but the jersey all players aspire to put on,” Mano said. “With the support of MRDC, we hope to see the ‘will’ in each players drive to pull on our national colours, the Pukpuk jumper, and to wear the jersey with a lot of pride, with passion,” Mano added. With the squad yet to be confirmed, and the final 14 to travel to Tahiti for the Pacific Sevens next month, regular squad members are sure to be served some hard notices, after the weekend’s performances. Teams from Rabaul, Kimbe, Mendi, Bougainville and Goroka attended putting on impressive performances.  An announcement of the final squad will be made today.

WHP into fundraising
TEAM Western Highlands has begun various fundraising activities to secure enough funds to fly the whole contingent for the coming PNG Games, as the event draws closer. The team management has come up with a fundraising calendar for the remaining weeks until mid next month when the games starts in Port Moresby. Some of the fundraising drives includes car washes, dances, corporate buffet dinner both in Mt Hagen and Port Moresby, and  Team Western Highlands is now calling on interested sponsors for assistance. Any sponsor who wishes to assist Team Western Highlands can call their hot line on 520 0177 or mobile 7199 9249 at any time or you can make your deposit direct  to Team Western Highlands, PNG Games 2009 Account Number, 13379617 at ANZ Mt Hagen.

 
Team EHP in dire need
TEAM Eastern Highlands is one of the several provincial teams which is in dire need of funds to send its participants to the 2009 PNG Games next month in Port Moresby. The steering committee of Team Eastern Highlands needs over K560,000 to enable its participation in Port Moresby. Environment and Conservation Minister Benny Allan urged Governor Malcolm Kela Smith and the Eastern Highlands provincial administration to rescue the team with a funding of between K250,000 and K300,000. He said Team EHP was the pride of the province and it was imperative and fair that the provincial government should come in as major sponsor for over 50 % of the required funding.

Jacobus, UBO world champ
MELANESIAN neighbour Vanuatu celebtrated a first for the Pacific nations in professional boxing when super middleweight (76kg) Kali “The Vanuatu Kid” Jacobus, 35, defeated Thailand’s tough veteran Plaisakda Singwancha, 37, for the vacant Universal Boxing Organisation (UBO) world title on Saturday at Parliament Park, Vanuatu. The heavy handed Jacobus, who spots a 12-3 (9 KO) record previously won the UBO International super middleweight title when he stopped Fijian Temo Kolitapa in July enabling him to contest the organisation’s world title.