Focus on school fights

By LARRY ANDREW
A TOTAL of 32 teams are competing in a week-long soccer tournament at PTC College in Lae, Morobe, according to organisers Sylvester Wafohunie and Wally Mondo.
Sponsored by NS Building and Construction, the back-to-school tournament is supported by Lae Urban local-level government ward five councillor Jacob Maragau and Tent City youths.
Mondo told The National that the tournament was aimed at helping address school fights and promoting good sportsmanship.
He said school fights had affected students and youths in Lae over the years.
“Attempts have been made by the Government, churches and community leaders to address the issue,” Mondo said.
“The tournament is aimed at bringing together young people from Tent City and the rest of Lae to establish good relationships and unity.”
He said to achieve the goal, teams had been urged to be disciplined on and off the field.
Mondo warned that ill-disciplined teams would be removed from the tournament.
“Our community is fortunate to host the tournament,” he said.
“We will welcome dignitaries from football, and the public and private sectors in our bid to unite communities through soccer.”
Apart from the tournament itself, awareness on schools fights — to be conducted by principals, law and order officials, and representative footballers — will be held today.
Mondo said a convoy of vehicles with players would also tour the city to conduct awareness.
The convoy will begin at PTC and pass through Busu Road, Malahang, Hanta, Chinatown, toptown, Lae Market, 6-Mile, Eriku, Kamkumung, Independence Drive, Unitech, East Taraka, Tent City and Bumayong before finishing at the college.