Butterflies kick off preparations for season

BUTTERFLIES have kicked off preparations for the 2021 Port Moresby Rugby Football League (POMRFL) season, starting with the Mineral Resources Development Company Nines.
Trainings are from Mondays to Fridays (4:30pm) at Boroko’s Apex Park.
Butterflies have been fielding teams in each of the three divisions – A Grade, Under-20s and women.
Experienced Butterflies players such as Dixie Ani, Fedro Gene, Rex Tandowa, Yunni Patrick, Yeki Benjamin, Brian Gispe, Elijah Kutz, Jimmy Yawane and Maiya Clark are training with their respective Digicel Cup teams but will lead the A-Grade side depending on their availability.
They will be backed by youngsters in Simon Kaman, Ronnie Seronte, Isaiah James, Benji Rau, Genesis Oresi, Phillip Gene Okul, King Paraia, Tony Sipa, Dui Kia, Iru Toa and Shaun Patrick.
Despite being without a sponsor for the last couple years, the club’s A-Grade side reached the 2020 grand final where they lost 18-22 to Hekari Tarangau.
Butterflies are inviting talented players from outside the National Capital District to join the club for the upcoming season.
“Butterflies will also be working closely with the Active City Development Programme to promote healthy living in communities within our city,” the club said in a statement.
Business houses and interested individuals who are willing to support or sponsor the club can contact Butterflies head coach Michael Boeo on 73852895.
Butterflies Yunni Patrick lining up for Vipers during the Amazing Port Moresby Rugby League Challenge at the Southside Stadium in February this year.
Despite being without a sponsor, the club said it was grateful for the support of founder and patron Peter Oresi and his wife Patricia.
Butterflies joined POMRFL in 2006 after winning the 2005 Coca-Cola Ipatas Cup in Lae, Morobe.
Since the club’s inception, Butterflies have appeared in the 2011, 2014 and 2020 grand finals – losing all of them to Tarangau. This will be the club’s 16th season in the country’s oldest rugby league competition.
Some of the players who played for Butterflies and went on to play representative football are Jessie Joe Parker, Charlie Wabo, Emmanuel Palme, Benjamin John, Joseph Omae, Johnson Kuike, Leonard Otmar, Aron Mulunga, Bobby Yakopa, Atte Bina Wabo, Andrew Mckewa, Enoch Yori, Ole John, Toto Pawa-Lagea, John Bonney and Billy Johnson.