Defence get feeder club to strengthen campaign

KAWASO Defence Rugby Football League club in Port Moresby have become the first club in the country to adopt the feeder club policy to strengthen their players’ depth during the rugby league season.
The former glamour team and premiership contender in Port Moresby Rugby League had been weakened by player drain by bemobile Cup franchises in the recent years.
In order to strengthen the team, sponsor Kawaso Limited managing director Kossy Sosoro has adopted the feeder club policy to ensure the club remain competitive throughout the competition.
In so doing, Sosoro donated a new set of jerseys worth K5,000 to SSR rugby league club in Hohola rugby league competition as the feeder club to Defence.
He said he decided to sponsor the club because, as former suburban league player with Souths Rugby League club in 1970s, he knew the struggles of respective clubs taking part in suburban competitions.
Sosoro said this was the first time he sponsored a suburban rugby league team in Port Moresby.
Kawaso Limited also sponsored the Defence Rugby League club in Port Moresby, Hawks Rugby League club in Mendi and also co-sponsored Civpac NCD Vipers in the bemobile Cup competition.
Sosoro said Defence RFLC always started the competition well but when bemobile Cup competition commenced, a lot of players were snapped up by franchises which weakened the team.
“A lot of players in the team are young and not competitive against other teams,” he said.
He challenged the SSR players to have a set frame of mind and play their hearts for the Kumul jersey.
Sosoro said he would engage the Defence RFLC technical staff to monitor players from SSR to be included in the club.
“I have a five-year sponsorship agreement with Defence RLC and I have two years left and want to see Defence win the rugby league grand final before I move on in other areas,” he said.
SSR club president Leo Lyein thanked Sosoro for the sponsorship.
He said the sponsor had said some encouraging words to boost the performance of his players which included possible recruitment of two or three players to join the Defence club for next season.