Sapau opens netball championship

AS players, you have been selected as the best netballers representing your respective provinces to participate in this championship, Manus Governor Michael Sapau said during the official opening of the National Netball championship in Lorengau, Manus province, on Tuesday.
He told those present that they had brought into Manus province some of the best netball talent that Papua New Guinea had to offer and he was sure they would display some of their talents as some of them are best netballers in PNG.
“Sometimes we take sports and games for granted and see it as something merely for leisure and really not all that important,” he said.
Mr Sapau told the netballers that sports and competitive games were important for personal physical growth and development.
On the health side, he said playing sports reduced blood-sugar levels and also lessened the risk of blood cholesterol, therefore; taking part in sport was well-being.
“It’s my real hope and wish to see that from such events PNG netballers and officials has a national team that can demonstrate to the world that we have talented netballers and we can win major international titles.”
Mr Sapau also pointed out that, using one’s body also enhanced and stimulated brain development and activity.
Mr Sapau commended the organisers for their effort in staging such a major event and thanked them for choosing Manus as the venue.
The Manus provincial government also assisted financially with K25, 000 towards the championship – K5,000 was from the Governor’s office, K5,000 from the Lorengau urban LLG and K15,000 from the office of the Member for Manus and Minister for Inter-Government Relations, Job Pomat.
The participating associations were Manus, Madang, Lae, Moresby North-West, Alotau and newcomers Kiunga.