Nova duo eager to take on new season in Capital Rugby Union

By MICHAEL PHILIP
NOVA’S premier division winger Kenneth Boffah and hooker John Maliku are primed for the 2024 Capital Rugby Union (CRU) season with plans to one day represent the national team.
The duo were part of the Nova Under-20 squad in previous years and got called into the premier division this year to fill up the void left by former big guns.
Boffah and Maliku who are both 19 years old told The National that they would be working hard this season to help the side enter the finals.
“It’s a positive start for me personally getting the call-up from U20 division into the premier division,” Maliku said.
“I make use of this great opportunity going forward. I started playing rugby back in 2019.
“I am currently attending Waigani Christian Academy College doing Grade 12 and my biggest dream is to represent PNG one day wearing the PNG Pukpuks jumper either in 7s or 15s competition.”
Boffah, who is a mix parentage of Ghana in West Africa and Kerema, said with CRU’s commitment towards developing the competition this year, their dreams and aspirations could possibly be achieved.
“This year will be my fifth year playing in the CRU competition with so far one premiership Under-23 division which was last year and two back-to-back 7s tittles in one year for my club Moni Plus Nova,” Boffah said.
“CRU has great plans shooting forward for us as young rugby players making our dreams and aspirations a reality. For me, I am leaving it in God’s hands because I know he is the one who is going to show me the right path.
“My plan is to definitely represent my country in both 7s and 15s. It’s desire of mine to put on the Pukpuks jumper one day in either 7s or 15s.”
Boffah was brought up in PNG and looked up to PNG rugby big guns in likes of Cecil Davani, Tivau Gigimat, Douglas Guise and Manu Guise who are former Novas players.