Sevens tourney attracts support

THE success of the Gazelle Sevens rugby union tournament has prompted cooperation to development sports as a primary responsibility of the Gazelle District Development Authority (DDA).
The two-day tournament, which ended on Saturday, attracted 20 teams from East New Britain’s three districts of Gazelle, Rabaul and Kokopo, and one team from New Ireland’s Namatanai.
Gazelle sports director Jimmy Bonava said K1.7 million had been approved by the DDA for sports.
“This is solely for all sports to meet their intended purposes in the district,” he said.
Bonava said the partnership between the DDA and officials, including sports development officer John Turmarum and district administrator Hubert Wangun, had paved the way forward for sports in Gazelle.
He thanked Wangun for vowing to maintain the ToMaringa gym and other facilities.
“A memorandum of understanding will be signed to secure ToMaringa to be the official venue for Gazelle Rugby Union,” Bonava said.
“Such programme is in line with our district integrated sports plan.”
At the end of the sevens tournament, Bonava acknowledged the technical officials, grounds men and interim executives of Gazelle Rugby Union and the group commander of SSD Royal Constabulary of PNG for allowing the usage of the field.