Raiders win shield in junior AFLPNG tourney

HIGHLANDS Raiders won the coveted shield at the end of the 2010 AFLPNG Coca-Cola junior national championships held at the Igam Barracks in Lae.
The three-day tournament was a filled with excitement, great football and participation from the players, officials, families and friends.
The event had attracted the U13, U15 and U17 boys and U15 girls sides from the Highlands, Southern, Northern and Islands regions.
Highlands Raiders team manager Moses Kar said he was excited about the championships and the opportunity it offered the youths in PNG.
“We came with a great team and we are happy that we have won the 2010 shield.
For last few years, the Northern Thunders have taken out the shield. They had been very strong competitors.
“However, it is a great feeling to hold the shield for this year,” he added.
The shield is awarded not only to teams that are great on the field but to those players who behave off the field, how they interact with each other and their assistance throughout the tournament.
Raiders had met those criteria to win the shield.
Asia Pacific manager Andrew Cadzow was there to oversee the event and the talent on display to select players for future national and international duties.
AFLPNG manager Walter Yangomina said it was important to perform well because players from all age groups were selected throughout the event.
“We made selections for the AFLPNG Academy in Bomana, children also were selected to take part in the AFLPNG talent camp at the National Sports Institute in Goroka in December.
“We also picked a bunch of girls for the Kurakums squad. It is an exciting time for AFL football here in PNG,” he said.
AFLPNG would also like to thank Coca-Cola for providing water, soft drinks and energy drinks during the event.
They also acknowledged the support of Lae Biscuits Company and Paradise Foods for donating biscuits (Snax) and other snacks products.
The overall champions for the U13 boys division; NGI Stingrays, U15 boys; Highlands Raiders, U17 boys; NGI Stingrays, U15 girls; Northern Thunders.