POMNA ambitious

THE Port Moresby Netball Association (POMNA) is looking abroad in a bid to expose its players to tougher tournaments in preparation for representative and coaching duties.
POMNA president Linda Ligo told The National on Wednesday that with last year’s membership of 2,050 players and officials, their competition was the “benchmark of netball in the country”.
“POMNA has so much potential,” said the Tubusereia native, who was re-elected unopposed for a second term (2020-2023) as president of the association over the weekend.
“We have plans to expose our young talents to tournaments or competitions overseas.
“For our seniors, we also have plans for overseas tournaments to gain experience, confidence and instil discipline.
“Thus, this is also an opportunity to identify potential coaches and umpires.”
Ligo said POMNA was always looking out for new challenges to further develop its players.
“In my opinion, the flair of the national championships is no longer there, being the biggest association with the biggest membership in the country,” she said.
“We have a competition running every year, good playing surfaces, and recognised technical officials.
“POMNA is really the benchmark of netball in the country.
“Thus, my executives have plans for our players to compete in tournaments overseas.
“POMNA wishes to raise its standards rather than regress.”
Lynette Maha and Lua Rikis were also re-elected unopposed as senior and junior vice-presidents respectively.
PCP Lightning’s Robyne Walimu (treasurer), Telstars’ Emily Maha (secretary) and Sparrows’ Dianne Lahari (vice-secretary) were also elected to office.
When Ligo took over as president from 2018, she had little finances to work with.
“To start the netball season with a bank balance of K200 was a huge challenge,” the 48-year-old said.
“An audited report for 2018 was presented at last year’s annual general meeting.
“We started last year with a balance of K6,000, thanks to the establishment of an accounting system and strict financial management.
“I’m now pleased to announce that we will carry over K34,999 —about K35,000 — to start our next season.”
In 2016 — the first of Ligo’s two-year term as junior vice-president — she provided uniforms for POMNA’s junior and senior teams competing at the national championships in the nation’s capital.
But now that she has been entrusted with the reigns for at least another term, Ligo has bigger plans for the country’s biggest netball association.
“Obviously, this season was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said.
“But we’re hoping to start our new season next year.
“Moving forward, we’d like to arrange for synthetic playing surfaces for outdoor courts four and five initially, and later plan for the others.
“We’d also like to raise the height of the fencing, especially the section near the Boroko Market.
“Due to membership growth and limited courts to accommodate all divisions, we expect to have the premier competition held separately.”