Venue schedule delays tournament, Digicel Cup players can play

Sports

THE Fuzzy Wuzzy Nines rugby league tournament was moved from yesterday to Thursday at the National Football Stadium, according to an official.
Tournament director Manu Lofena said this was due to an event being staged at the stadium yesterday.
Lofena said the opening ceremony would start at 7.30am and with the first game kicking off at 10am between reigning champions Funeral Home Laumas and Taurama Siporo Magpies.
He said the tournament was open to Digicel Cup players but each team was allowed only one Papua New Guinea Kumuls and SP Hunters player. Lofena said this was in line with the tournament’s aim of promoting and developing upcoming Southern talent.
“This gives talented footballers an opportunity to push for selection into Digicel Cup franchises like the Port Moresby Vipers, Gulf Isou, Central Dabari and Hela Wigmen,” he said. Meanwhile, Laumas have retained all their key players but will miss the services of playmaker Solomon Pokari, who is undergoing pre-season training with the Hunters.
“We are recalling Jojo Forova to replace him. We have Rabaul Gurias’ Eliakim Lukara, veteran Tuvi Lepan, John Ragi Jr, captain Lawrence Kuso and Gillespie David in our side as we look to retain the title,” the defending champions said.
Miro Koivi manager Joshua Kouoru has recruited Gurias’ Lucas Kapinias to add firepower to our backline of Rex Hapea, Moses Okopela, Peter Soi, Raywatt Vincent, Eddy Mase, Yunny Patrick, Gabby Taune and veteran Samson Pirika.