Jiwakans urged to rally

By PARKER TAMBUA
WAGHI Tumbe chairman Paul Tumun has urged Port Moresby’s Jiwaka community to turn up and cheer them on when they face Mendi Muruks in Sunday’s Digicel Cup grand final qualifier.
The match will kick off at 3pm at the Oil Search National Football Stadium with both teams vying to face minor premiers Lae Tigers in next Sunday’s grand final. Tumun told The National on Wednesday that Tumbe were one win away from making history as they had never played in a Digicel Cup grand final since their inception.
“To the Jiwaka community in the nation’s capital, please come and support your team as we will need it,” Tumun said.
“This is your team, we’re the pride of the province.
“Tumbe are not based in other centres like some Digicel Cup franchises.
“The players are from Jiwaka and we are based in the province.
“For our away games, we travel out to play.
“We are based in the province because we want a team who have a strong connection with their people.
“This time, we are really close to making history.”
Tumun said the 2021 finals fever in the team was different from those of 2018 and 2019 were they got knocked out in the semifinals.
“A few years ago, we finished in the top-two consecutive times but were knocked out easily in the finals,” he said.
“But this year, it’s different because we started from the bottom and made our way up in the regular season and it seems like we are peaking at the right time of the year.”