Let league touch the untouched

THE 2018 Digicel Cup competition is over and other mini competitions are being played among groups and in selected parts of the country.
One of the main events that captures the minds of young men throughout Papua New Guinea during the off-season is the Ipatas Cup, which the founders had wonderfully planned and executed. Thanks to those who are responsible for the sponsorship towards this wonderful tournament.
It is my belief that the tournament name speaks for itself and Sir Peter Ipatas has been a great figure behind this event every year since it was established.
Thank you Sir Peter.
What began as a Central Highlands competition between Kundiawa, Goroka and Kainantu has now developed to include a large section of the rugby league-playing regions of Papua New Guinea and beyond.
As we look forward to planning and executing the 2019 Digicel Cup competition, wouldn’t it be good to consider expanding the competition some more to include rugby league-playing regions that we may not have exposed?
New Ireland and Western, for example, have always produced wonderful stars in various sports that they have been exposed to; perhaps provincial sports planners in these provinces may consider future inclusion in the Digicel Cup competition.
Right now, perhaps the three regions that have potential rugby league players who I believe should be exposed are Central, Kimbe and Madang.
Both Kimbe and Madang participated in the intercity competition at one stage but both stopped abruptly.
I am certain that there are more than enough businesshouses in both provinces to consider sponsoring one team each from those two centres.
Central should obviously have descendants of former Motu greats in the likes of Tara Gau and others who played for DCA and Paga Panthers, bringing style into the game of rugby league during the 1970s and 1980s.
It would be wonderful if those three centres are considered for inclusion in the 2019 Digicel Cup competition.
Alternatively, consideration should now be made for centres like Goroka and Chimbu to field second teams since we have hundreds of young and talented players standing in a long queue.
Let us make the 2019 competition more exciting.

Gerard Saleu