Fiji, Solomons teams arrive

 By HENRY MORABANG

TWO visiting teams for the Third Pacific Islands Triathlon and Cycling championships in Port Moresby arrived yesterday.

The three-man team from the Solomon Islands plus Fiji’s Andrew Pene-coached and managed team of seven were met by Stephen Damien and Stephen Sallun of the PNG local organising committee at Jackson International Airport. 

Pene anticipated it was going to be a good two-day tournament that starts on Saturday and ends on Sunday.

As coach/manager for Team Fiji, Pene is confident of a good result as he has brought a number of athletes who will give Team PNG a run for their money. Pene, who brought two of his sons – Lui and Toma – as part of the team, said Fiji would be a stronger team on Saturday morning.

He said other members of the team included Wah Sing, Petero Manoa, Seini Adivuti and Lavinia Dickinson.

Solomon Islands spokesman Leibon Lokatoi said he expected good results in the triathlon leg.

He has brought two other athletes in  Stanley Ofasisili and Teddy Poris. 

Leibon said all three Solomon Islanders would take part in the triathlon – both in senior and junior categories. 

Young Poris will swim in the junior section of the event, while Leibon and Ofasisili will take part in the senior section. 

It is the first time for all three Solomon Islanders to travel to Papua New Guinea. Unfortunately, they will not take part in the cycling event on Sunday as they will return home.  

Both Pene of Fiji and Leiban of Solomon Island appeal to their fellow citizens living in Port Moresby to come in numbers to support them on Saturday morning.

Sallun of the PNG local organising committee said the Fiji and and Solomon Islands athletes arrived yesterday, while Team Guam would fly in on Friday.

Fiji and the Solomon Islands will use their next three days to acclimatise.