Souths tournament moves to capital city

 By ELIAS LARI

THE sixth National Souths Basketball League tournament is scheduled for July 23-25 in Port Moresby.

The tournament started in 2002 in Mendi, Southern Highlands, and attracts teams from throughout the country.

Centres that normally play in the tournament are Lae, Goroka, Mt Hagen, Hela, Southern Highlands.

League patron Pastor Isaac Joseph has appointed Timothy Ako as acting president.

Joseph said the tournament was being moved to Port Moresby to promote solidarity, friendship and unity among Southern Highlanders.

Teams that have expressed interest this year are Semberigi Gobe Souths, Hekari Souths (Moro), Mo­ro Souths, Moran Souths, Lakers Souths, Undiri Souths (Mendi), Mendi Souths, Welgris (Hagen), Kondo East Anglim, Snax South (Hagen), Pangia Souths and Tari Souths (Hela).

Mako said it was a challenge for the executives to organise such an event in the capital city.

He said they were looking forward to a big showdown and he was confident things would work out well as planned.  

He said he would be working closely with the Basketball Federation PNG and the PNG Men’s Basketball League for technical help.

“I sincerely apologised to all teams who participated last year because the tournament ended prematurely but now I assure teams that the July tournament will be better and successful,” he said.

“I’m appealing to our business houses, corporate sponsors and leaders to support teams so basketball can become a family sport.”

He thanked Hagen Open MP and minister for petroleum and energy William Duma for the sponsorship package last year.

Mako urged teams wanting to play in the tournament to contact him on 7061 8691/7219 4255 or email [email protected].