Team NCD plan season

CHAMPIONS Team National Capital District are getting their acts together for the PNG Games in Kokopo, East New Britain in November.
During a meeting for the Port Moresby Suburban Sports Association at the Sports Inn yesterday, president Billy Aki said NCD Governor Powes Parkop had allocated K200,000 for the suburban games to select promising talents to represent NCD.
Aki said the event was an opportunity for talents at the grassroots level to be exposed at such tournaments so that they reach higher.
The association has been tasked to organise their sporting activities and come with their best players to represent NCD before the deadline.
He said the selection process had been delayed but that should not been seen as a hindrance for various sports to get themselves organised and get their competitions running.
He said they could start their pre-season soccer, touch, basketball and volleyball competitions on Feb 18.
Aki said the rugby league competition would kick off after the off-season finals 
Aki warned players to be registered so that they could have insurance cover if they were injured participating at the provincial or international competitions.
NCDC sports coordinator Diane Paliau and special events coordinator John Boino support the suburban concept and would be selecting players from these competitions to represent NCD.
NCD will have teams participating in the sports that would be on offer at the games to retain the crown.
“Although we are behind in our preparations, we are confident of achieving our goal at the games,” Paliau said.
Meanwhile, Moresby North-east youth and sports chairman Rex Kuman selected the ATS Oro and 8-Mile to compete in soccer for men’s and women’s divisions.
For touch, ATS Oro and Erima (men and women), Korobosea and Laloki  (men and women) for volleyball and 5-Mile and 8-Mile (league).