Pride recruit two more Hunters for inaugural season

By PARKER TAMBUA
THE Sepik Pride continues to recruit more marquee players from the SP Hunters with Joe Frank and Francis Kembis signing with the new Digicel Cup side on Friday.
Middle-forward Kembis will bring size and form into the EMK Construction-sponsored side’s pack while blockbusting center Joe Frank will boost their backline.
The signing brings the total number marquee players to four including the previous signing of Kumuls duo Watson Boas and Wartovo Puara Jr.
Sepik Pride chairman Emmanuel Kange said on Friday that Kembis and Frank’s recruitment proved the club’s drive in taking serious consideration of players’ welfare.
“Joe Frank and Francis Kembis are star players and we are happy to bring them in to boost our team,” Kange said.
“As I’ve said during the signing of Boas and Puara Jr, Sepik Pride is all about players’ welfare and we’ve offered a good deal to Kembis and Frank and it’s exciting to see them join us.
“Both players will be flown to Wewak next week (this week) after spending some time with their families in Port Moresby.”
Kembis was the fittest forward during the Hunters preseason after going through a bip test a fortnight ago.
The Jiwaka native’s exit after two seasons with the SP Brewery-sponsored side would be a notable loss for head coach Stanley Tepend ahead of the 2023 Hostplus Cup season.
Frank was in great form in the 2022 Digicel Cup season and was instrumental in leading the Rabaul Gurias to the grand final, only to lose to Hela Wigmen in extra time.
The former Waghi Tumbe thanked Kange for giving him an opportunity to be part of the new club.
Kembis shared the same sentiments.