Teams set for Huon Gulf district tourney

By PISAI GUMAR
PARTICIPANTS from three local level government areas in Morobe will turn up for the Huon Gulf second district tournament at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium in Lae starting today.
Teams from Wampar, Salamaua and Morobe patrol post will compete in basketball, soccer and volleyball competitions.
Tournament chairman Amos Wallace said 104 participants both men and women were only there to compete.
However, he said it was an opportunity for them to expose their talents and skills to earn spots in Team Morobe for the PNG Games in Kokopo, East New Britain, this year.
There are 18 players in the men’s and women’s divisions competing in soccer.
There are also 12 players in both divisions participating in the basketball and volleyball competitions.
“The event is crucial to the youths in the village because it provides an opportunity for them to be involved, to learn, acquire knowledge and skills as well as build confidence in themselves,” Wallace said.
The first tournament was held in Busamang village, Salamaua in 2010. It was supposed to be held in Wampar last year but was shifted to Lae and was deferred to this year due to the unrest in the city last year.
“The purpose of organising games is to empower each LLG to build their own mini-stadium for rural tournaments and do away with bamboo and coconut soccer goal posts,” he said.
A letter was written to community district officers, presidents and council managers of other eight districts to get their teams prepared for the selection of provincial games but had received no response.
Without sponsors, the district joint planning committee provided K100,000 and lawyer Kelly Naru gave K5,000 to support the games.
Nestle PNG donated 50 T-shirts and Millennium Water company pledged to provide water for the players during the tournament.