Lions, Moku in league final

By KEVIN TEME
WAPENAMANDA in Enga is bracing for an exciting weekend when the Pausa off-season rugby league holds its 2011-12 grand final this weekend.
Defending champions Cliff Lions face Moku Spythons in the playoff for the K2,000 prizemoney and the Cup. The runners-up will settle for K1,000 and K500 will go to third placing.
New kids on the block, Spythons boast of exceptional players like Frank Ene, Ezekiel Ene and Eddie John who should put up a strong challenge against their opponents.
Lions are determined to retain the title and will be counting on their skipper Freddie Yapao, Wilson Unumi and Willie Yapao to lead up front.
It will also be a battle for opposing coaches – Spythons under the guidance of Samson Pyaliak and Lions under Daniel Yapao – to determine who wins the title this season.
The competition has been made possible with the support of a nationally owned company, Lorma Construction Ltd, contributing K10,000 this season.
The company will also continue to sponsor the competition for the next five years.
League president Nishen Yapao said the company’s support would go a long way to helping youths in the district.
“I would like to thank Lorma Construction Ltd and the management for the commitment.
“It has shown a lot of improvement in the lifestyle of the people at home,” he said.
Yapao, who was in Port Moresby to buy trophies and medallions for the finals, said it was difficult to control youths in the districts due to the rise in tribal warfare and use of marijuana and homebrew.
However, since the rugby league competition was introduced, there has been decline in illegal activities.
Yapao, who had played for the Lae Bombers in the inter-city cup competition, has signed up with his home team, Toyota Enga Mioks.
He hung up his boots up from the semi-professional competition and is running the competition in his village.
Yapao has been leading the competition for the past two years.