Sepik pair to train, trial with Rabaul Gurias

UPCOMING sprinter Emmanuel Anis is among two players who will trial with Digicel Cup franchise Rabaul Gurias after impressing the 2015 champions during last month’s Agmark Sepik Nines.
Tournament coordinator and Sepik Pride bid manager Bradley Simon told The National yesterday that Anis and Johnathan Aisa would join the Gurias next week and train with their development squad.
“Anis and Aisa played for Wewak and Maprik schoolboys respectively in the nines tournament,” he said.
“They will train under Papua New Guinea Kumuls coach (and former Gurias mentor) Michael Marum for three weeks before the main squad joins them next month.
“It’s only a train-and-trial agreement.
“Marum will teach them the basics and if they can impress him then they’ll join the main squad for the 2021 Digicel Cup season.”
Simon said the partnership with the Gurias was aimed at exposing unknown talents in the Sepik provinces.
“We’ve had the partnership since 2017,” he said.
“The whole purpose of it is to give unknown talents an opportunity to train and gain exposure with the Gurias.
“In 2017, the Gurias scouted two players who went and trained with them for three months.
“But they couldn’t break into the final squad because the pace of the Digicel Cup was much faster.
“This time, Anis and Aisa will have a fair opportunity because they won’t train with the main squad.
“They will only train with the development squad.
“But if they do well, they will slowly transition into the pace of the main squad.”