Challenging year ahead for Lae netball

LAE Netball Association under the leadership of Josephine Ila have a challenging year ahead as they prepare to host the national netball championship later this year.
This year will also see the association take the lead in organising the Morobe netball carnival to select players for Team Morobe to participate in the PNG Games in Kokopo, East New Britain in November.
With plans underway, Ila is calling sister associations from Ahi, Wampar, Situm and Corporate netball organisations to join in the pre-season competition.
The season kicks off this weekend at the Chinese netball courts in China town.
“We won the bid during the national championships in Port Moresby last year to host the championship.
“I am asking sister associations to come forward and support to prepare Team Morobe for the PNG games,” Ila said.
She said the association was ready for the annual mini pre-season tournament.
“Interested teams as well as players intending to join the competition are invited to come and register,” Ila said.
The fee for the mini tournament is K200 for a team. It will be an open division competition.
She said the national championships would be held during the third term school holidays.
The season proper will start in April and end in August.
Ila said the junior competitions would also take place.
Schools in Lae and the surrounding areas have been urged to call Ila on 7224 1426 to participate.
“Depending on the number of junior players we will start from U10, U13, U15, U17 and U21 divisions.
There is also keen interest in the masters division. It will mean the oldies play on Sunday afternoons,” Ila said.