Sia committed to Lahanis in 2018

The National Sports

By ZACHERY PER
GOROKA businessman and philanthropist Simon Sia, pictured, will continue his sponsorship of the Bintangor Lahanis for the 2018 Digicel Cup rugby league season.
Sia made his intention known to be franchise owner and maintain backing the team and put to rest doubts whether his Bintangor company would continue sponsoring the provincial side.
Bintangor Super Nines rugby league competition manager Benji Filele made Sia’s stand known yesterday.
Sia’s company will be backing the side for its 10 season this year.
Filele said Lahanis through the sponsorship of Bintangor won back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011.
In 2010, the Lahanis won the Bemobile Cup as it was known then with the trophy still on display along with the 2011 Digicel Cup in Sia’s main store, the Bintangor supermarket in the Eastern Highlands capital.
“The Bemobile Cup is now rested in the Bintangor Supermarket in Goroka with the Digicel Cup and we are proud,” Filele said.
The Lahanis beat the Mendi Muruks 21-10 in the 2010 final at the Lae rugby league ground and defended it with a 20-10 victory over the Agmark Gurias the following year’s final in Port Moresby’s Lloyd robson Oval.
Meanwhile, the Bintangor Super Nines Rugby League competition will kick off next Tuesday at the Sir Danny Leahy Oval.
Filele said Sia would sponsor of the competition under the Bintangor banner and it would run for a week.
He said the competition would be the first official Lahanis trial event and players who performed would be picked for the 2018 Digicel Cup season. “Clubs to participate in the Super Nines are coming from all over Eastern Highlands and not only from Goroka town and nearby communities,” Filele said.
“It is a truly Eastern Highlands provincial competition.”
The 24 teams are set to take part in the nines.
Teams: Lovisa Brothers, CPL Norths, GDH Brumbies, Western Blacks, Nowek Royals, Eastern Bulldogs, Kainantu, Lufa, Bena Blades, Daulo, Souths, Mimanalo, Zaukave, Genoka, O-Wan Titans, Okapa, CC Wests, SK Titans, EH School Boys, BOC Bullets, Goroka Brothers, Mamboo Roots, Crusaders.