Hagen players to run out for Northern Kapundas

 By James Gumuno

AFL Mt Hagen will send a large number of players to play under the Northern Kapundas in the ESP Cup challenge in Port Moresby on Sunday.

Mt Hagen will send 10 players, mostly students from Hagen Park and Hagen secondary schools.

AFL Papua New Guinea Highlands regional coordinator Mathias Scott said yesterday the players were selected last October during the national championship in Lae, Morobe.

Scott said his boys will team up with other players from Kimbe, Lae and Goroka.

He said the Northern Kapundas would send a 30-man squad to the Southern Kapundas.

He said his players had been training under Wellington Wesley  and included McQueen Malt, Ben Kias, David Stagmen, Danny Mapa, McWells Malau, Barry Forova, Collin Yak, McTyson Bruce, Nick Basil and Isreal Kumbikul. 

Scott said his players would travel to Port Moresby today and camp with other players from the Northern side before the match on Sunday.

He said it was a golden opportunity for his players to display their talent.

He said Mt Hagen had produced some of the best  AFL players over the years, some won junior scholarship from  AFL Australia and now studied and played in Australia.

 Scott said AFL was a disciplined sport that groomed  players physically, mentally and spiritually.

He said AFL helped young people not becoming involved in illegal activities, alcohol, drugs, violence and others.

He urged students in the province to join teams and play in the local competition as they had a good chance of making it to next level.