PNG Garamuts in Sunshine Coast for EAP tourney

By TRAVERTZ MABONE

THE U19 Garamuts flew to Queensland yesterday  for the 2011 International Cricket Council East Asia Pacific U19 Cricket Trophy tournament on the Sunshine Coast. 

The Garamuts have just come out of an intensive training programme and will be looking to finish on top of opponents Fiji, Vanuatu, Indonesia and Japan which would pave the way for the next big tournament in Ireland in August.

Today PNG will play a Twenty20 match before the tournament officially begins on Monday.

Team manager Greg Campbell said yesterday that he was excited about the Garamuts’ chances describing them as very capable. 

“We’ve got a very good side thats got some very good medium pacers and batsmen that can really get the ball rolling,” Campbell said.

The side will be captained by Barramundi Chris Kent and will include two Lae  boys Raturima Maha and Walo Navu while the rest  are from Port Moresby including Rogeauka Roge, Nigel Boge, Sese Bau, Lega Siaka, Dogodo Bau, Vagi Oala, Norman Vanua, Toua Tom, Kabua Vagi, and Alei Nao.

“Kent has good leadership with direction and his experience with the Barras will be something the team can benefit from,” Campbell said.

The Garamuts will play four matches over six days before flying back next Saturday.

The first match will be against Fiji on Monday.

Garamuts coach John Ovia said he was wary of Fiji and Vanuatu whom he pin pointed as PNG’s main threats but added that he was pleased with training and conditioning.

The Fijians have surprisingly paid PNG the ultimate compliment saying they were basically aiming to come second in the tournament. 

PNG’s second match is on the following day against Indonesia before taking a rest day (Wednesday) and then playing their third match against Japan on Thursday.

PNG will then play Vanuatu on Friday.

Hoping to emulate their seniors performances in Hong Kong the Garamuts should win the tournament and do it undefeated.