Morobe to send 530 member team

By LEONNIE WAYANG-SEVUA
TEAM Morobe has expressed its appreciation to the O’Neill Government for committing K4.4 million to subsidise airfares to Kokopo, East New Britain, for the fifth PNG Games in November.
Provincial sports and recreation officer Ludwig Peka said Team Morobe would be sending 21 teams to take part in the codes set out by the PNG Games committee.
Peka is chairman of the Morobe technical committee that includes Steve Malum, a former Lae Snax Tigers’ coach, and Gebo Keputong.
‘The team will be sending the biggest contingent of 530 members that include players, technical staff and protocol officers,” Peka said.
Sports that have gone into trials to select players to represent Morobe at the Games are cricket, netball, darts, kickboxing, hockey, softball, athletics, tae kwan-do, bodybuilding, power and weight lifting.
A levy fee of K300 has been charged for players and officials to subsidise transport costs.
“The deadline for fees to be paid is September 28. If someone is on the final selection list but cannot make the deadline then we will pick somebody who took part and did not make it but has the money to step in,” Peka said.
Basketball, volleyball and soccer have confirmed hosting trial games from Sept 28-30 to select players.
Peka said it was resolved in team meeting that those participating districts would be responsible for their own accommodation, transport and rations for the duration of the trials.
 “We are making a request to Lae Football Association, Lae Amateur Basketball Association and Huon Volleyball Association to make their facilities available for the trials,” Peka said.
He said the committee would formally write to the three associations to ask for the use of the facilities and to ensure that they were in good order.