Frank, Wamdi commit to Gurias

The National Sports
Former Waghi Tumbe captain Joe Frank during the Digicel Cup grand final presentation at the Oil Search National Football Stadium in Port Moresby last year. – PNGNRLCpic

By PARKER TAMBUA
REIGNING Digicel Cup runner-up centres Joe Frank and Valentine Wamdi say they have committed to Rabaul Gurias for the upcoming season.
The former Waghi Tumbe pair told The National yesterday that had arrived in Kokopo not only on a train-and-trial arrangement, but with the intention to play for the Agmark-sponsored side this year.
Former SP Hunter Frank and Wamdi quashed any possibility of returning to the 2021 losing grand finalists at the end of the trial.
“Wamdi and I moved to Kokopo because we wanted to play for Gurias,” former Tumbe captain Frank said.
“We will sign contracts that will see us stay at the club for the whole season.
“There is no existing contract between us and Tumbe, so we are free to move and we are excited to be part of Gurias this year.
“We’ve contributed to our provincial team (Tumbe), but we feel that we need to move on and play for different sides while we are still young and at our peak.”
Wamdi said the reason behind the move was to get a better shot at making the Hunters and Papua New Guinea Kumuls.
“Joe and I share the same opinion,” he said.
“After the Hunters’ selection list came out at the end of last season, only two Tumbe players (Francis Kembis and Matthew Jesse) made the squad and some of us missed out.
“When you look at the clubs like the Gurias and Lae Tigers, they have good systems and that is why you see more of their players coming through and making the Hunters and Kumuls or even getting contracts overseas.
“The Gurias’ coaching staff showed interest in us and we thought it was a great opportunity for us to join them to increase our chances of reaching the next level of our careers.
“It’s about growth and exposure, and the Gurias are all about that.
“We are happy to be part of the team and represent the people of East New Britain.”
Gurias team manager Mapua Tamtu said the pair had settled in well for the pre-season.
“We have them for pre-season training in preparation for the 2022 season,” he said.
“We hope they enjoy their time here in Rabaul.
“We look forward to working with the pair.
“We’re keen to see if they can form a good combination in the centres for us.
“But we’ll see how it goes first during pre-season training.”