Oro Country confirmed to play in netball c’ship

Normal, Sports
Source:

The National, Thursday August 1st, 2013

 THE Oro Country Netball Association (OCNA) has confirmed its participation in the national championship in Port Moresby .

Oro Country will field teams in the seniors, B grade and masters and juniors under-15 and U17. 

The association runs its competition in the  Higaturu LLG of Sohe district.

OCNA president Phyllis Deboa Ami said the squad was dominated by players from Sangara Block and Mumuni village.

Ami said the national championships was a great opportunity for rural players to play in a competitive tournament.

She appealed to Sohe MP Delilah Gore and Oro Governor Gary Juffa to support the OCNA side for the championship hosted by the Motu Koita West association from Sept 23-29. 

She said most of the players were village youths and students who would struggle to pay the full cost of participating at a national event. 

“We are representing Oro and also preparing for the 2014 PNG Games in Lae, Morobe.

“This is the only way to improve netball in the province, by attending the national championships which happen every year and not waiting for the PNG Games and select the Oro squad as this is ill-prepared team,” Deboa Ami said.

She was concerned that Popondetta netball, as the biggest association in the province, had been in the doldrums for almost six years and the Provincial Sports Office needed to take steps to  the competition.

Deboa Ami said netball competitions are only played at Sangara, Siroga and Mumuni in Higaturu LLG of Sohe District and as a result Higaturu was superior to the Popondetta Urban and beat them in the finals during the Oro provincial games.

She thanked the PNG Netball Federation for recognising the rural association and accepting them as a member of the national body.