Cowboys eyeing back-to-back titles at NGI 9s

By JACK AMI
NEW Guinea Islands Nines champions KMA Vims Cowboys are set to defend their title at this year’s tournament in Kokopo, East New Britain.
New naming rights sponsor Mosin gave K85,000 for the Jan 26-28 event and the winner’s prize is K50,000 — a K10,000 increase from last year. The runners-up get K20,000, while the third-place finisher gets K10,000 and the fourth place getter K5000.
The cash prizes announced earlier this month are the highest on offer for a nines tournament in the country.
Cowboys founder Kevin Ming Ahipum and Vimuru Bisambi said they were keen on defending their title and the increased cup prize money was a great bonus.
Ahipum said the team had already paid the K3300 registration fee and were counting down the days to the event which will be held at the Kalabond Oval.
The tournament is run by Gurias coach Steven Nightingale and the Agmark company.
Ahipum said with the raised stakes he was expecting a lot of talent to be on display.
The Cowboys have retained co-coaches in former Kumuls Rodney Pora and Chris Lome.
Last year the Cowboys beat another team from Southern region, SSG Roosters in the grand final to bag the Agmark NGI 9s Cup and K40,000. Other teams from Southern region at the NGI 9s are SSG Roosters, Funeral Home Laumas, Pom City Punishers and Bang 36.
The tournament has also attracted teams from other parts of PNG in the Amazon Razorbacks, Tribal Edge, Huon Jets, Juggernauts, Hubuna Pythons, Page Park Cowboys, STK Bulldogs, Miss Rhussie Karo, Newtown, Gazelle 1, Gazelle 2, Malasang Warriors and Brisbane-based CDMC.