Hela leagues revived with youth coming back

 IT has been 18 years since the Koroba Rugby League held games. 

In a short stint as CEO for Hela Transitional Authority and now Provincial Administrator for Hela, William Bando (pictured) has helped revive rugby league in Hela province. 

He helped initiate Komo, Tari, Hulia and Koroba leagues whichare currently running at the moment. 

The new oval in Koroba currently used by the clubs was constructed by former member for Koroba Lake Kopiago John Kekeno.  

Koroba league affiliated with PNGFL this year and comprises nine clubs. 

Koroba League is a feeder club to the Digicel Cup franchise Hela Wigmen. 

One club in the district that has been given a boost recently was  Mogo Tigers.  

Steve Haguai, who is a manager/player for the Tigers said youths were showing an active interest in  playing rugby league, especially with the Wigmen looking to recruit directly from Hela.

His efforts to find sponsorship paid off  when NCL Tuguba Ltd, a subsidiary of Port Moresby-based civil engineering firm NC Civil Works for sponsoring the club with a set of jerseys. 

He further extend his gratitude to toher individuals for helping in the team one way or the other: Nicholas Constantinou, Marc Mulungu and Ben Agobe (NC Civil Works/NCL Tuguba Ltd), Digicel PNG, Bank South Pacific, Willie Kupo (Oil Search Ltd), Mark Powis, David Atterwell, Gibson Gobe, Maga Arawi, Aaron Paul (MCJV Komo), Puspendu Maity (Essar Komo), IPI Catering Services (Komo), Petrus Thomas (former MP, Koroba-Lake Kopiago), Howard Lole, Fred Orawi and Dr. Peter Bamne.