Briefs

PMNA to run clinics
THE Port Moresby Netball Association will use part of the K40,000 grant acquired from this year’s Australian Sports Outreach Programme to conduct an advance coaching and umpiring clinic to prepare for the PNG Games next week. Port Moresby Netball Association president Pole Kassman yesterday said advanced coaching would target coaches and umpires from the provincial and local associations. It will be held from Nov 12-17. The second part of the grant will go to the purchase of equipment to set up a gymnasium at the Port Moresby Netball Courts for use by the players.  The federation has acquired the services of two visiting Australian netball experts – Patti Farrel and Louise McMeeking – to conduct the coaching and umpiring clinics. Farrel is a Level 3 Australian netball accredited coach, who is also a former Queensland Firebirds coach. She has also been coaching several Queensland and Northern Territory state sides at the Australian age championships.  As a player, Farrel represented Queensland and Australia as a junior, as well holding a scholarship with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). Kassman said interested participants should contact her on 340-4229, 768-29772 or 721-54426 to register their interest in attending the clinics.  (Note both clinics will be run simultaneously with participants required to nominate their attendance at only one clinic).  Interested persons should call association secretary Naomi Haihavu on 7296-8808 or Lynette Maha on 7225-0320 to register.

Violence hits soccer finals
GEREHU Country Soccer in Port Moresby became the latest victim of violence in sports last weekend when disgruntled president of a losing side led a rampage through the Gerehu Secondary School grounds and ovals. The instigator was believed to be president of the Gogomates Club, who was unhappy with the final result of match against the Gerehu Secondary girls. It was alleged that he led a mob of drunks and armed supporters, beating up officials, staff, students and innocent bystanders. “A teacher who was not even part of the game was  also beaten up, and the head boy, who came to the teacher’s rescue, also had his leg broken. He is now in crutches,” a Gerehu resident, who witnessed the beatings, said.  Reports reaching The National stated that the group had entered the field with sticks, stones, bush knives and iron bars.

SI duo join Eastern Stars FC
THE influx of Solomon Islands players in the semi-professional competition, the National Soccer League (NSL), has greatly improved and taken soccer to the next level. These were the views of Eastern Star franchise owner Joe Ealedona last week after revealing the signing of Timothy Joe and midfield/flanker Paul Walei during their first warm-up match against University Inter FC at the University campus. The match ended up in a 1-1 draw.  Ealedona commended Hekari United FC for setting the pace and standard to improve soccer in PNG with the acquisition of overseas players, particularly from Solomon Islands and Fiji.