Two teams withdraw

 By KYMLIE KARANI

MADANG and Manus netball associations will miss this year’s Digicel National Netball championships set for September 22-29.

This was confirmed yesterday by PNG Netball junior vice-president of the Caroline Genaia who said both associations were left out of the confirmed listing of participants.

As of deadline last Wednesday, the confirmed associations that will be arriving this week for the championships are: Lae, Central, Alotau, Kiunga, Tabubil, Kimbe, East New Britain, Kerema District, Itisora, Oro Country, Morobe Country, Lagatoi, Motu-Koita West, Kairuku-Hiri, Port Moresby and Wewak.

PNG Netball president Julienne Leka-Maliaki said that Madang and Manus faced financial and/or administration issues which explained their non-attendance.

“Manus has been out for two years now and Madang did not show any sign of interest although they took part in last year’s championships,” Maliaki said.

Preparations for the championships have been going well and all teams are expected to arrive in the city by the end of the week.

Meanwhile, Port Moresby Netball Association (POMNA) is all set for the championships.

POMNA president Evanelia Kini is urging all junior players who have trialed over the past month to check final team lists on the notice board at the Rita Flynn Netball Courts today.

All selected players in the U13, U15, U17 and U21 teams will then meet with the POMNA executives tomorrow at the courts.

Players selected in the senior teams will meet on the September 23. The POMNA junior division teams are boosted with the guidance of current PNG Pepes players who were given the opportunity by POMNA to coach the teams.

The U21s are under the guidance of Lua Mavara-Rikis and Winnie Mavara as they assist coach Margaret Opina while Marinama Maha, Kila Rawali and Abertine Ehari assist in taking care of the rest of the junior teams.