Pepes remain positive

By SULI SULI
THE national women’s netball team remain optimistic about their campaign in the July 18-23 Oceania Netball World Cup Qualifiers despite a short preparation, according to an official.
The Papua New Guinea Pepes will leave tomorrow for Fiji where they will compete in the qualifiers against the hosts, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands at the Vodafone Arena in Suva.
All teams will play each other once and the two-top teams will qualify for next year’s World Cup in South Africa.
Regional giants Australia and New Zealand have already secured their World Cup spots.
President Ulato Avei told The National yesterday that her Netball PNG was confident in the final travelling squad of 12 players.
“The board of Netball PNG has endorsed a 15-man squad of which three are non-travelling reserves,” she said.
The travelling squad are Goloa Ovoa, Violet James, Kala Ali, Jacklyn Lahari, Villie Nopiri, Alice James, Shannon Apelis, Kilala Owen, Genevive Ume, Lesieli Taviri, and Australian-based pair Allensanda Smith Ani and Sarah Harris.
The Port Moresby-based players of the final squad were picked from a two-day selection trials two weeks ago. They only had about six weeks to prepare,” Avei said of the Pepes. “I am satisfied with the final squad.
“It will be very competitive and challenging for the Pepes. But I’m hoping that they perform to the best of their abilities.
“I thank Netball Australia for its support under the PacificAus Sports programme in facilitating the Pepes’ participation in the qualifiers.”
Technical officials Gewa Raula (bench) and Augerea Gigimat (umpire) will also travel with the squad.
The pair will undergo training during the qualifiers.
“This will be a great learning experience for the technical officials,” Avei said.