Port Moresby women’s softball put bat-off on hold due to pandemic

THE Port Moresby Women’s Softball Association postponed last weekend’s bat-off of its slow-pitch competition following National Control Centre directives in response to the rise in Coronavirus Delta variant cases nationwide.
Association president Ian Soweni said the decision came after consultation with Papua New Guinea Sports Foundation pandemic committee chairman Dr Kapua Kapua.
“The message from Dr Kapua is that the new directives, starting on Sept 30, will stand and all competitions will cease in PNG,” he said.
“Our submission to the centre’s Niupela Pasin team is still under consideration and, as such, our competition will not start.”
Soweni said the team would make a decision on whether to begin the competition with all leisure activities at the Bisini Sports Precinct now on hold.
“The Niupela Pasin team has acknowledged the impact on sports with the new directives and are taking all our concerns up with the controller and deputy controller for clearance and exemption for sports to continue, especially those played in closed venues like the precinct,” he said.
“Therefore, until the team comes back to us, our start will now be moved to another date.
“But we ask that all teams continue training and stay prepared for the competition.”
A total of 17 teams across 13 corporate organisations are confirmed for the competition in the nation’s capital.