Ipatas Cup set for early kick off: Lepa

The National Sports

By MELTON PAIS
PAPUA New Guinea’s largest off-season rugby league competition, the Coca Cola Ipatas Cup (CCIC), is set to kick off on Dec 7.
Chief executive officer Timothy Lepa, pictured, said the reason for his board’s decision to start early was to give the Enga Mioks and other franchises, who would use the competition to scout talent, ample time to recruit the players and start their preseason pogrammes in preparation for next year’s Digicel Cup.
“Apart from the known centres like the National Capital District, the Highlands zone, Morobe and Madang, now the potential newcomers Buka from the Autonomous Region of Bougainville will take part in the New Guinea Islands challenge and Tabubil and Kiunga who will have their won games in Tabubil,” Lepa said.
The first lot of matches will be played in Jiwaka, Enga, Lae and Eastern Highlands starting Dec 7.
The second lot will be hosted in Chimbu, NCD and Central on Dec14 and the final lot will be hosted in Southern Highlands and East Sepik on Dec 21.
Lepa called on interested teams to deposit their K1000 affiliation fee to Ipatas Cup BSP account: No.1001682713 and present the receipt to competition manager Sam Koi through email [email protected] or contact Koi on 70544851 to confirm affiliation.
“CCIC have only one bank account, which is given. Deposits to other banks will not be recognised,” Lepa said.
“We don’t want teams from giving in cash to the competition coordinators in the regions as teams without BSP deposit receipts will be disqualified.”
Lepa said the CCIC board would only accept eight teams for each of centres. “Teams who wish to take part in each of the regional tournaments should register quickly as preferences will be given to the first teams to register,” he said.
Teams are required to liaise with tournament coordinators to ensure that the affiliations are done on time. CCIC Coordinators and venues: Ben Ezekiel (72531315) Jiwaka Leg – Minj (Dec 7); Joseph Kipi (79582408) Enga Leg – Wapenamanda (Dec 7); Timothy Lepa and Sam Koi, Morobe Leg – Lae (Dec 7); Michael Joppa (73621784) EHP Leg – Goroka (Dec 7); Pastor Miniga (72254814) Simbu Leg – Minj (Dec 14); Simon Maima (79288009) NCD and Central Leg –Port Moresby (Dec 14); Jude Koke (72224226) SHP Leg – Wapenamanda (Dec 21); Bradley Simon (73282667) East Sepik Leg – Maprik (Dec 21).