Councillor critical of Isou squad report

AKAPIRU LLG Ward councillor Timothy Hearo has labelled the Gulf Isou training squad as mostly Port Moresby-centric and has denied talent from Gulf an opportunity to play in the Digicel Cup.
Hearo was responding to an article published on The National newspaper on Friday (Jan 11) titled ‘Isou name large squad’.
He claimed that while other franchises sourced the majority of their talent from their home province the Isou were not doing enough to promote talent from Gulf.
Hearo said the Isou management seemed instead picking players from the National Capital District.
“There should be trial matches in Kerema as we have a lot of good rural players who could have competed for those spots in the squad,” Hearo said.
“We don’t even know who the Isous men on the ground in Kerema are and how they identify talent.
“The West Kerema players selected are Ilave Sapea, Richard Rauni, Michael Araua from Kerema Rugby League.”
Hearo said ever since a Gulf team had entered the Digicel Cup the aim had always been to expose and develop the talent coming out of the province but he could not see that in the current Isou line-up.
“This is supposed to be a franchise from Gulf and not NCD and players especially from West Kerema like Baimuru and Kikori should be included in the training squad.
“We understand that they want an experienced and competitive side but last year they finished second last,” Hearo said.