K135,000 to boost hockey ops gold campaign for 2015

PNG Hockey Federation has received more than K135,000 to support its operation gold campaign for the 2015 Pacific Games in PNG starting the games in Noumea, New Caledonia, next year.
The National Gaming Control Board deputy chairman Graham Osborne presented K135,480 to the federation president Kaluwin Potuan recently, witnessed by the federation executive director Trevor Birney.
The federation will use the funds for airfare for the men’s and women’s development squads to participate at the Oceania Pacific Cup in Suva, Fiji, in December.
Most of the players in the squad are U22 players with handful of senior representatives.
Potuan said the tournament was accredited by the International Hockey Federation (IHF) and was world ranking competition.
“Our performance in the tournament is important to our world ranking. It is also important for PNG as we prepare for the  2015 campaign,” he said.
“We are determined to reward our government’s support with our bid for 2015 Games with gold.”
Potuan said PNG had been invited by Oceania Hockey Federation to participate in the Pacific Cup for the last three years.
He added with the support from the NGCB and the fundraising efforts of officials and players, PNG could now take part in the tournament.
Potuan thanked NGCB, the PNG Sports Foundation executive officer Iamo Launa and PNG Sports Federation Sir John Dawanincura for the support in awarding this major funding.
“This is a most significant and exciting day for PNG hockey,” Potuan said.