Official calls for government to build capacity

By ROBINSON LEKA
AN official has called on the East Sepik government to look into developing its local player base following the recent bid to have a team in the Digicel Cup next year.
Wewak Rugby League president Alex Anis told The National yesterday that the Sepik Pride bid for the 2021 Digicel Cup season was dependent on its local leagues and the players that came out from them.
“Wewak is the only affiliated league in the province so it has to be recognised and supported,” he said.
“It’s good we’re building momentum for our bid for 2021 but we have to have a player base to support the franchise.
“Currently, we don’t have the player base back in East Sepik so we need people like our governor to come on board and support the local leagues and the competitions in the province to strengthen our current crop of players.
“We have a lot young and talented players but we need a little bit more time to help develop the competitions and the players so that they are ready.
“I support the bid and I am truly behind everyone who wants to have our own Sepik team in the Digicel Cup.”
Anis said it was encouraging to get endorsements from such high profile rugby league personalities as Kumuls coach Michael Marum and PNGRFL chairman Sandis Tsaka but it was crucial for organisers and those involved in the sport in East Sepik to build its talent base and this would take time.
He added that one of the bid’s aims was to have the bulk of the team made up of home grown players and for that to be the case the local competitions needed to be strengthened.