Souths bid for basketball’s best

 National Souths Basketball Lea­gue major sponsor, Kutubu Security Services is bidding for a new franchise to play in the Papua New Guinea Men’s Basketball League competition next year.

Hekari Holdings Ltd owner John Kapi Natto and NSBL patron Ps Isaac Joseph revleaed that after the recently completed NSBL tournament in Port Moresby.

Kapi Natto said it was good to spend money on youth development in sports and he would continue to support Souths in its bid for a PMBL entry.

He is the co-franchise owner with wife Vonnie of the Hekari United Football Club, who are the undisputed champions of soccer in the country.

Kapi Natto and Joseph have made their expression of interest to PMBL and their bid is supported by Basketball Federation PNG, president Nick Daroa.

They identified talent during the tournament and are determined to secure the sixth place in the semi-professional competition in the nation’s capital next season.

Joseph said the new franchise had corporate backing for the team’s inclusion but their bid had yet to be confirmed by the PMBL board.

“We have the talent and players to make up the team but need qualified and certified coaches to train and guide the team in the competition,” he said.

He extended an open invitation to interested players and coaches to join the new franchise, saying it would be one of the best managed clubs in the competition.

PMBL commissioner Larry Miro Junior and the board was aware of the Souths interest but had yet to  decide whether to accept them.

Earlier, Miro had said interested franchises should have 15 players in the premier division and two or three experienced hands to be competitive. 

He said franchises should have a junior base and development programme to compete in the minor division A grade, Under-20 and U15.

The inclusion of the Moresby West Jokers underwent the same process. Teams in the  competition are Exodus, Tamaraws, West Jokers, Chariots and Saints.