Netball umpire, representative inspire village comp

By JACK AMI
PEOPLE from Moripi in Gulf converged at Lese Oalai for a feast of netball action during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
The presence of former PNG Pepes defender Margaret Eka and senior Port Moresby Netball Association umpire and Gulf Isou mentor Anna Buehler boosted the morale and confidence of the many potential netballers from Lese Oalai and Lese Kavora villages.
With Eka and Buehler umpiring, players performed to their best of their abilities.
Eka, one of the best players coming out of Gulf, also played for a local team, Oalai Itisora. And as expected, her experienced was too much for the opposition in the A grade division.
Both teams also include potential talents from nearby neighbouring Miaru, Lese Aviara and Toaripi villages.
In the rugby league competition, former Gulf Isapea George Kose turned out for Lese Kavora but his team lost to the hosts Lese Oalai Itisora Broncos 12-8.
Kose said he was helping to promote and develop the code in East Kerema.
“This is a tradition between the Oalai’s and Kavora’s to play against each other in rugby league and netball during New Year which was dead for a few years but revived now,” said senior sports journalist and administrator Martin Liri.
Liri said the games were organised by the locals and it was encouraging to see sport unite people.