Isou beat Sparrows to qualify for netball premier division

GULF Isou qualified for the premier division after they beat Credit Corporation Sparrows 22-15 in the Port Moresby Netball Association division-one grand final on Saturday.
Port Moresby Netball Association applies the relegation-promotion system.
The Gulf team had to overcome challenges to stay on course to get this far, an objective that has taken almost a decade to achieve.
President Anna Ekari Buehler was emotional as it had been her dream to take the club to top-flight netball in the nation’s capital under some trying conditions.
“Sports teams thrive on sponsorship, especially from the Government and corporate sector and these are not easy to get if you are a small club. Clubs that ahave good networking are blessed,” said Buehler, who is from Lese Kavora.
“For the last few years there have been some support but if it is not continuous we really have no choice but to dig deep into our own pockets to fund the participation of the clubs. I am sure other clubs without corporate support do the same because of our love of the sport, or their parents doing it for their children who participate in the competition.”
Her ties with frend Loi Vele had been instrumental in merging PCP Lightning players with Isou some three to four years ago.
Last Saturday, all the hard work from the young ladies came to fruition when they fended off a strong challenge from Sparrows.
At half time not much separated both sides with the scoreline at 13-9.
But Isou lifted the tempo as Faith Mataio (goal shooter), Alice James at (goal- attack) were on target while Weia Lohia (wing attack), Arua Gaudi (wing defence) and Alice Vagi (centre) controlled proceedings in the midcourt.
Pamela Kose (goal defence) and Heagi Ray (goalkeeper) also played their part to keep the Sparrows attack at bay. But it was a great team effort as Molly Vagi (GS), Theresa Koupa (GA), Monica Gureki (WD), Margaret Gureki (WD) provided solid support off the bench in a season where some of the girls, between the ages of 16 and 21, had to play between one to four games each competition day.
Assistant coach Eloise Vele and her grandmother Loi as head coach have been impressed with the discipline and work ethic of their players.
Buehler was thankful to PNG Ports for their assistance, paying the clubs registration for Isou’s four teams and others like Gulf Sports Trust, the sports arm of the Gulf government who have been encouraged to join them in celebrating the milestone.
Milestone in that all the premier teams are dominated by clubs which are predominately players and officials from Central.
Isou’s rise to the top flight has not gone unnoticed as PNG Netball Federation president Jullienne Leka-Maliaki was equally proud of their achievements.
“They’ve so much talent. Credit to Anna and her team, I’m very impressed and it is exciting,” the former PNG international said.