Top clubs invited to CCIC

PAPUA New Guinea’s number one rugby league off-season competition, the Coca-Cola Ipatas Cup, has scored another coup, roping in local music star K-Dumen as the official artist for the 2012 challenge.
Chief executive officer Timothy Lepa, when officially announcing the 2013 calendar, said having Dumen on board was a testament to the popularity of the tournament and its impact on the grassroot followers.
K Dumen will be supported by 2010 Digicel Stars winner  Greg Aaron in bringing rugby league’s message to the districts with performances at all venues.
Current Kumuls second rower and Enga Miok’s captain David Loko, who is an ambassador of the competition thanked the CCIC board for taking K Dumen on board.
Lepa also mentioned that some of the new venues would include for the first time the Gurias ‘graveyard’, Kalabond Oval for the New Guinea Islands challenge.
Two premier clubs in the Kokopo league, current premiers Royals and runners-up Kokopo Muruks and other teams from the districts such as Lihir, Kavieng, Kimbe and Hoskins will play in that challenge.
In another significant milestone, the challenge will also be played in Arawa, the former capital of the North Solomons and Oro capital Popondetta.
The Southern region play offs will see Port Moresby league premiers Dobo Warriors, runners up Brothers, last year’s CCIC finallists Paga Panthers and all districts of Central battling it out for the right to represent the region.
The Highlands challenge will see 2012 combined premiers Wapanamanda Tigers and Mendi Off-Cuts, while districts of origin in Enga will be played in December.
Winner and the runners-up will earn the right to represent Enga in the challenge.
Western Highland’s games will be played in Kondopina, Jiwaka in Minj, Simbu’s in Lae and Eastern Highlands games in Madang.
Each winner of the conference play-offs will take K10,000 and a gold pass to enter the K100,000 cup play-offs in the final round in the eastern and western end.