Pepes to send young players to Mini Games

By HUXLEY LOVAI
The PNG Pepes team travelling to Vanuatu for the Pacific Mini Games will consist mostly of younger players who will be getting a taste of their first senior tournament.
Netball PNG hopes to use the Games in Vanuatu as a trial for the next generation of elite netballers in the country.
Netball PNG president Julienne Leka-Maliaki said the Pepes were currently in the middle of a rebuilding process.
With several senior players nearing the end of their international careers, Netball PNG has taken proactive steps to ensure that there were suitable replacements.
The Mini Games provides an excellent opportunity for the future Pepes to show off their talent and abilities.
Leka-Maliaki said: “50 per cent of the team now comprises of that group of girls, so we need to start building them as we see our older players phase out we need to start bringing in the new girls.
“We want to prepare them well so they can play together for the next 10 years.”
She said the Pepes would take part in netball World Cup qualifiers in April, with the current group of players set to form the core of that team.
The selection trials will begin in January for the final team to participate in the qualifiers.