Hela team seeks K50,000 to attend basketball tournament

 THE Hela Souths basketball squad in Tari is appealing for backing from politicians, business houses and prominent individuals in the province to get them to the 7th National Souths Basketball League (NSBL) tournament in Port Moresby next month. 

Coach Andrew Alphonse said that they needed K50,000 to fly the 24 players (men/women) and officials to Port Moresby.

Hela Souths have participated in this tournament since its inception in 2007. 

The tournament will be from August 28-30.

Alphonse said the team had players from the three Hela electorates of Komo-Margarima, Tari-Pori and Koroba-Lake Kopiago. 

“The players have been in a training camp at their own expense over the past two months,” Alphonse said. “My team is made of players who are raw and inexperienced but they are all willing to give their best at this Souths tournament.”

Alphonse said letters seeking sponsorship had been sent to business houses, including ExxonMobil PNG Ltd, developer of the PNG LNG project among others. 

“We have not got a response from  potential sposnors but while we are waiting the players and officials are all working to raise their individual levt fee of K500.”

Alphonse said any funding would go to airfaires and accommodation for the team. After the NSBL tournament the team returns home to prepare for the PNG Souths Basketball tournament to be held in Nipa in September and the PNG Games in Lae in November. 

Interested sponsors can contact Alphonse on  73921405 or 70535702. 

Hela men: Richard Mathew, Jojo Joseph, James Andy, Elvis Kaloma, Samson Yuwi, Paul Ngawe, Alois Michael, Jonah Warabe, Tarali Jim, Tanda Wari, Alex Tongole, Douglas Bisiape; Hela momen: Sila Mariap, Shirlyn Wangi, Cathleen Mawe, Shelian Pius, Ruthy Henry, Julie Mark, Nancy Mana, Janita Alex, Edith Kiak, Patricia Mulungu, Lucy Harabe, Marilyn David; Officials: Jenny Kila, Peter Mana (managers), Sr Heidi Andaija (technical staff).