Rapilla hails netball for transition of presidency

By JACK AMI
PAPUA New Guinea Olympic Committee secretary-general Auvita Rapilla has commended Netball PNG for a professional transition in presidency between outgoing boss Julianne Leka-Maliaki, pictured, and Ulato Avei.
Ulato was voted to the role at Netball PNG’s annual general meeting during the national championships in Goroka, Eastern Highlands, recently.
Rapilla said it was pleasing to see Netball PNG have a mutual understanding among all parties in continuing to develop the sport in the country.
She said this was the only way to see the sport develop in the future with the right kind of mindset and approach.
Leka-Maliaki, who remains an active member of the sport, had achieved a lot during her nine-year presidency.
She said it was a challenging period for her team since taking office in 2011.
“We started off with K36 and today, Netball PNG has K200,000-plus (in its account) which has come about through accountability and transparency,” Leka-Maliaki said on Friday.
Avei praised Maliaki for her tremendous contribution to netball on the domestic and international front, with visionary plans to develop the code in the country.
“I will have an open-door policy in my tenure and continue where Julianne left off,” she said. Leka-Maliaki and Avei have agreed to work together and help develop netball in PNG.