Insurance firm backs netball

PACIFIC MMI Insurance yesterday renewed its funding of K75, 000 for another 12 months to Papua New Guinea’s national netball team the Pepes.
PMMI managing director Wayne Dorgan said: “This commitment will also ensure that our best team gets on the court in the major tournaments that they intend to represent PNG in this year.”
Dorgan also announced that the PMMI would also be providing a sponsorship package which includes insurance for safe conduct of all the athletes and accompanying officials.
The secretary of PNG Netball Federation Julienn Maliaki, in acknowledging the sponsorship on behalf of PNG Netball, was thankful for the timely sponsorship as it would meet the expenses of this years netball calendar.
She said: “There will be a Pacific Series tournament held from June 3-5 in the Cook Islands.”
Prior to this, the women will commence a pre-trial competition in Lae for the northern region where players will be selected to meet teammates from Australia in Port Moresby from April 17-18, then travel to Australia on May 20 for a camp in Brisbane where selections wouldbe made for the Pacific Series.
Currently there are 43 girls in the Pepes train on squad with most of them between 16 to 21 years of age.
Coach of the PNG Pepes Pole Kassman said that the girls have been training well and with 8 senior players on the team including Mona Lisa Leka and Lua Rikis, the transition face of the Pepes will look to be a compatible force.
Mrs Maliaki also added that since 2006 over the PMMI has given roughly over K300 000 to the Pepes which is the biggest sponsorship package the team has received from any corporate sponsor “We are very thankful for that and it will be and honor to bear the PMMI logo, being the naming rights sponsor and partner.”