Diro proud of Telstars success

 By KYMLIE KARANI

IN their 47th year, Telstars continue to dominate the Port Moresby Netball competition after booking a spot in the 2013 grand final on Saturday.

Veitu Diro, pictured, who founded the club in 1966, spoke highly of their success since then.

The club has 11 teams of juniors and seniors that compete in the POMNA competition.

This year seven of the club’s teams have made this year’s grand finals on Saturday.

However, it will be a different type of history in the making for the premier team.

Defending their title, the mighty red-clad Telstars want to notch their 39th premiership.

The club goes back to when founder and former netball/basketball international, Diro started it. 

She said it had always been her dream to train and groom junior players.

“It is the commitment that makes a team successful and I believe that grooming junior players is the key to being a successful club. Juniors are players of tomorrow,” Diro said.

Those who played for the club in Diro’s time is a who’s who of netball and includes Kaia Kapa, Pilu Rapilla Baldwin and wife of the late Sir Mari Kapi, Lady Tegana Kapi.

Interestingly, their children have followed their footsteps and are today’s national representatives.

Baldwin’s daughter, Tiata grew up playing for the Telstars and is now based in Australia, while Lady Tegana’s daughters, Kapu, Rachel and Nancy are prominent in the POMNA competition.

Other netball greats who came through Telstars are Iammo Launa, Julienne Leka-Maliaki and the Mavara sisters – Lua and Winnie.

Telstars are hoping to add this season’s premiership to their tally of 38 seasons as reigning champions of the Port Moresby Netball Competition.

Telstars are arguably the oldest club in the country.

They have  won 38 of their 42 finals appearances.