Moroi supports boxing tourney

By HENRY MORABANG
CENTRAL Governor Alphonse Moroi yesterday honoured his commitment by donating K10,000 to the organisers of the Moroi Cup boxing tournament in Aipeana village, Mekeo.
The three-day tournament starting next Thursday has attracted boxers from Abau, Hiri and Kairuku.
The governor’s first secretary Perai Manai said the Central provincial administration always supported sports because it  believed in exposing hidden talents in the rural areas.
In the last PNG Games in Port Moresby, he said boxing had done well and the provincial administration would continue to support talents in the rural areas.
Apart from boxing, there were other sports the provincial administration had been supporting.
PNG Amateur Boxing Union tournament director Dick Larry said the initiative would ensure the youths got themselves occupied during the festive season.
National coach Joe Aufa, who is also the tournament director thanked paramount chiefs Steven Apau and Charlie Ima’maeva for supporting the event.
He is also the president of Choppers Boxing Club in Aipeana village.
Aufa said he was expecting fighters from Hiri, Abau, National Capital District, East Mekeo, West Mekeo and North Mekeo to participate.
He said Team Central would be using the tournament to identify potential boxers for the 2012 PNG Games in Kokopo, East New Britain.
The previous tournament was sponsored by Wari Vele in Veifa village.
“It is very encouraging to see such tournaments taking place. The province has produced boxers like Robert Namana and Sugar Ray Arua to name a few.
“However, such tournaments could be excellent opportunity to unveil more raw talents from the rural areas,” Aufa said.
He is calling on boxing clubs to contact him on 7243 7282 if they were intending to participate.
He said fighters were required to pay K5 for the tournament.
There will be no affiliation or nomination fees because most clubs were members of the Kairuku Amateur Boxing Association.