Kouba hopes to touch gold

 By FRANCIS RODNEY PULU

GRACE Kouba, pictured, is one of the 25-member train-on squad training to earn a spot in the national women’s rugby touch team in preparation for the at 2015 Pacific Games.

Kouba, who is yet to taste top level touch footy of the Pacific Games,  first developed the interest of the game as a 10-year-old upon seeing her uncles playing the game.

The 25-year-old Oro and Central woman is a product of the Port Moresby Corporate Touch competition, where she started playing as a 14-year-old for Nambawan Super Fund from 2004-2006.

In 2007, she played for the Propest Delight and from 2008-2010 for PNG Water Board. 

She has been playing for her employer, MoniPlus, since 2011.

Kouba represented PMCTC to the 2005 corporate nines national championship in Lae, Morobe, 2006 in Port Moresby, and 2009 in Rabaul, East New Britain.

She was part of the women’s team that held the cup for the past  five years before being defeated last year by the Port Moresby Industry Touch Association.

She represented the country in 2012, where she was part of the women’s squad that went to Brisbane, Australia.

Kouba said being part of the training squad was tough, especially with the type of training they were undergoing at the National High Performance Training Centre.

“Each training session is important.

“I am so thankful to my parents, who are very supportive and my employer — Moniplus — who allow me to take time out for training during work hours.

“I am looking forward to the Games because it would be a golden opportunity for me to take part and represent the country,” she said.

Kouba is currently in training with the other 25 women who are vying for a spot in the final 16-member squad.

The squad would be announced after the training camp at the Institute of Public Administration next week.