EPC out to prove worth at tourney

NEWCOMERS Eastern Papua Carnival (EPC) will be out to make their presence felt at the Southern Besta FA Cup qualifier from August 28-31 in Port Moresby.
EPC, an associate member of Port Moresby Soccer Association (PMSA), have been given the green light to showcase their talent at the tournament.
EPC president Joyce Grant said their participation in the Papua New Guinea Football Association-sanctioned tournament was a dream come through for Milne Bay football followers in Port Moresby.
“It’s been 41 years since the formation of the social and cultural football event for Milne Bay people in Port Moresby and EPC has finally been recognised as a football tournament under PNGFA,” she said.
Grant said thanked PMSA for endorsing EPC as an associate member, and PNGFA for allowing EPC to be part of the football family.
EPC have named a women’s and two men’s training squads for the Koupa Soccer Association-hosted tournament at the Bisini Soccer Ground.
“We have a mixture of men and women from all over Milne Bay who have been part and parcel of the EPC through family and marriage,” Grant said.
Grant is appealing to all Milne Bay elites in Port Moresby to take ownership of EPC by assisting the squads as they prepare for the qualifier.
EPC is the only avenue that brings all Port Moresby-based Milne Bay people together through sports and cultural activities. The cultural activities died out but football lives, she said.
Morea Vavine, president of the host association, welcomed EPC for the qualifier.
“EPC, who have produced some top players, will be out to prove their worth,” he said.
“Teams must be prepared for a big showdown.”
Vavine said he was grateful for the chance to host the tournament for the third time and invitations were extended to affiliates from within Koupa Soccer Association, Port Moresby Soccer Association, Higaturu Soccer Association (Oro) and the National Capital District Public Servant Soccer Association.
“Member associations (MAs) and associate members with active competitions are allowed to participate. We also invite Rigo, Goilala, Abau and Kairiku-Hiri,” he said.
Vavine said only selected teams and associate members of Koupa were eligible to participate.
He said interested teams would have to pay a registration fee of K560 for member associations and K500 for associate members.
All payments must be made into PNGFA’s operations account (No.7002171143) at Bank South Pacific’s Waigani branch. “Our deadline for payments is Aug 14,” Vavine said.