Dabari submit intent

By ISAAC LIRI
THE Central Dabari bid team presented a letter of intent for the 2019 Digicel Cup season yesterday in Port Moresby.
The letter was received by PNGNRLC competition manager Stanley Hondina and PNG Rugby Football League chairman Sandis Tsaka.
At least one other franchise — Kimbe Cutters — is expected to submit a bid for next season.
The PNGNRLC expression of interest for 2019 season will be made known at the end of the year.
The PNGNRLC board is still in the process of completing this year’s season and will then consider all the bids coming through.
According to Tsaka, the bids are from Buka, Kimbe, Madang and Central and will be screened by the board and two to be allowed in next season.
Central Dabari bid team chairman Keith Iduhu assured both Tsaka and Hondina that their bid had grown internally since announcing their intentions at the beginning of the year.
“Our bid team has been visiting various districts in the province to ensure competitions are up and running so they can support the Dabari franchise,” Iduhu said.
“We’ve also secured a three-year sponsorship package with the Vitis Industries which will not only cover training and preparation for the franchise but also extend to player welfare with the provision of jobs for drafted players.”
Tsaka and Hondina were pleased to have round table discussions with the Central Dabari board.
Tsaka said he was plased to see the interest from provinces to enter the Digicel Cup, which he described as a bridge from the amateur to the professional.
He said the PNGNRLC along with the PNGRFL had a commitment to to see the game develop and spread across the country as the national sport and saluted the progress in which the Dabari bid team had made.