Sepik return to Wewak

By PATRICIA KEAMO
SEPIK returned to Wewak on Saturday following the indefinite deferral of the Women’s National Soccer League (WNSL) semifinals, according to an official.
The Northern Conference runners-up, who have been based in Lae since last December, decided to return home due a number of reasons, including the nationwide Covid-19 situation and the players’ education.
Fourteen Wewak-based footballers and a player from Vanimo have returned safely to Wewak to be reunited with their families after being away for almost four months.
General secretary Clarence Hukahu told The National yesterday that the board reached the decision to move the team back to Wewak three weeks ago.
“We decided that the team couldn’t stay in Lae because we had made a commitment to their parents that by March, the season would (end),” he said.
“With the Covid-19 situation recently (surge in cases), we couldn’t let the players be away from their parents, anything can happen.”
Hukahu said another reason was due to the education of the players, most of whom were primary and secondary school students.
He said five of their Lae-based footballers and a Madang player had been sorted out prior to the team’s travel. Hukahu said their travel arrangements and allowances were met by the K20,000 funding support from the Office of the East Sepik Governor.
“The office committed the funding for shoes (soccer boots) and other commitments, but we resorted to financing the team’s travel instead of awaiting a decision from the Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) in four weeks,” he said.
He said the club’s board members thanked the Office of the East Sepik Governor for the assistance which paved way for their travel.
Meanwhile, he said the team would continue their preparations while awaiting the advice from PNGFA.
Hukahu said they had already set their sights on preparing for next season.
“Our focus will be on improving the conduct and behaviour of our players,” he said.
“We have received a lot of interest from players to join the team, but our priority is on our existing players before we look at scaling down and sourcing new players.”