Raminai commits K20,000

SPORTS Vice-Minister Wesley Raminai has committed K20,000 for next year’s Sportzevents Southern Nines rugby league tournament in an effort to help develop the code in the region.
Raminai made the commitment following the 15th edition of the tournament, which was established by rugby league administrator Ivan Ravu and his brother Solomon.
The Kagua-Erave MP is not new to the Ravu brothers having been an executive with the Port Moresby Rugby Football League.
“This event involves Southern teams from Central, Gulf and Western, with only Milne Bay and Northern missing out,” Raminai said.
He praised the brothers for establishing the tournament to expose and develop rural talent in the region.
“This is incredible as some tournaments don’t last this long,” Raminai said. “They are here today and gone tomorrow.
“This is the type of tournament that will develop and expose rural talent in the city.”
Raminai said without tournaments like the Southern Nines, rural talent would not have avenues to showcase their skills to a bigger audience.
“This where talent are identified for top competitions like the Digicel Cup,” he said.
“These players are only here for several days and after the tournament, they go back to their villages.
“It takes commitment and support from players and their relatives to compete in the tournament.”
Sportzevents executive director Ravu thanked Raminai for the funding commitment, saying that the K20,000 would go a long way in helping them develop the sport in the region.