Simbu athletes get SOS call

TEAM Simbu is now in a last-minute drive to raise  funds to fly their athletes for the 4th PNG Games which starts in next Thursday in Port Moresby.
The organisers have anticipated to raise more than K160,000 to cover the cost of airfares, meals and transport for 200 participants, including team officials and management.
Team Simbu president Arnold Gigmai is also urging the athletes to pay up their levy fees to be eligible to travel for the event.
Gigmai told The National that he was appealing to the Simbu community residing in Port Moresby to attend Team Simbu fundraising dinner at the Hideaway Hotel on Nov 13 to raise funds for the team’s participation.
The team management is currently making arrangements for their uniforms before they travel to the city.
Most of the participants are expected in Port Moresby next Wednesday. However, it will depend on paying up their levy fees.
Gigmai said most of the members of Team Simbu were furnishing up on a few areas in their respective sports.
“They are doing last-minute touch-up to represent their province in basketball, ability sports, soccer, rugby league 9s, touch rugby, netball, volleyball and athletics,” Gigmai said.
“We finished sixth at the 2007 Games and we want to improve our ranking at this year’s event.”
Gigmai is optimistic Team Simbu will dominate the games in athletics.
The side boasts of PNG’s long distance runner Sapolai Yao, young speed sensation Kupsy Bissamo, Steven Kiagi, Maria Kwadima and Ana Paigos, who should give NCD and Morobe a good run for their money.