Parkop: National capital contingent is the team to beat in Kokopo

By HENRY MORABANG
TEAM NCD has vowed to defend their champions tag and will take part in all 22 sports in the 2012 PNG Games in Kokopo, East New Britain, in November.
National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop made the prediction during a sports press conference in Port Moresby yesterday.
Parkop said NCD hosted the PNG Games in 2009 and won the most gold medals.
“Team NCD is ready after paying all the necessary required fees, which include initial deposit, team list and will attend the Games to defend its title,” he said.
He said Team NCD would be the team to beat in November.
“We are going out there to defend our title and we are going to defeat host Team East New Britain,” he said.
Parkop said everybody knew there was a graveyard in Kokopo.
“Team NCD is not afraid of whatever they have in ENB. Whatever they have, we have it in NCD too.
“If they have the Tolais, Pomios or Baining in East New Britain, we (NCD) have them here in Port Moresby City as well.
“Whatever they have around the country, we have them too in Port Moresby. If they have Sepik ironmen, we have ironmen in NCD.
“We are the team to beat. We are going to win the PNG Games,” he said.
“If any province can beat us, then Team NCD challenges you to meet them in Kokopo.”
With every PNG Games the standard had been raised with teams spending more money to send large sides but the only a few provinces are strong contenders: NCD, Morobe, Eastern Highlands and East New Britain.

Tkatchenko thanked Prime Minister Peter O’Neil for his initiative of providing K200,000 to all provincial teams attending the November Games after the difficulties of getting all athletes and officials to the Games was raised.
Tkatchenko is appealing to all governors and provincial teams to get the list of the competitors travelling to the Games as soon as possible to Air Niugini for processing.
“We will not be paying any money to the teams,” he said.
He said only 10 provinces made the effort of submitting their team lists.
“All must remember that the PNG Games is about every province taking part – 22 provinces must have a representative at the Kokopo Games,” he said.
Tkatchekna said he was impressed with new Jiwaka province, which had committed to send a large contingent to Rabaul.
The deadline of Aug 31 has passed but all provincial teams have been a further two weeks from yesterday to register.