Motu-Koitabu netball tourney launched with 36 teams on board

By PATRICIA KEAMO
THE 2021 edition of the annual Motu-Koitabu Moresby South Netball Tournament was launched yesterday, with 36 teams from six Motu-Koita villages participating in three divisions.
An initiative of Moresby South MP Justin Tkatchenko, the tournament has been sanctioned by the National Control Centre with recognition from Netball Papua New Guinea.
The junior divisions tipped off yesterday at the Southside Fitness Centre and will run throughout the week, coinciding with the school holiday while the intermediate and senior teams will compete from July 10 to September.
Tournament director Asi Mou said the junior tournament, named after Komi Geita-Gaudi, would see 12 teams competing this week for the Cup and prize money.
“The 12 teams participating in the junior division are between Under-15 and U17 and their matches will run for one week,” Mou said.
“The other divisions (seniors and intermediate) will be starting on July 10 and end on Sept 11, but they will be playing only on Saturdays.
“That’s another 12 teams for the intermediate and 12 in the senior division, which makes 36 teams in total.
“For the junior tournament, we’ll be playing for the Komi Gaudi Cup which was donated by Justin Tkatchenko in memory of one of the junior players who lost her life in a natural disaster (earlier this year).”
Tkatchenko told netballers from Moresby South’s six Motu-Koita villages — Vabukori, Pari, Kirakira, Mahuru, Korobosea and Taurama — that Netball PNG would monitor their performances throughout the tournament.
He said the winners would play against the Moresby North-West (Motu Koitabu West Netball Association).
“Through Netball PNG, the selectors will be keeping an eye on the players for the national team,” Tkatchenko said.
“There is a career pathway in this.”