Vipers board plans to start junior academy

By JACK AMI
THE Port Moresby Vipers board plans to start an academy to prepare the club’s junior talent.
This was revealed by Vipers board chairman Ted Lulu, who said last week that an academy was the way forward to ensure the franchise had a programme to induct talented young players for its future teams.
Lulu said the Vipers Academy would be the start of their junior developments aimed at identifying and developing talent from the city’s secondary schools with links to primary schools as well.
“We have to get junior development right and drive it forward as a Digicel Cup franchise, a semi-professional club, to have a direct hand in developing the talent in the city and providing pathways and opportunities for Port Moresby’s young talent.” Lulu said the plan had the backing of NCD Governor Powes Parkop who was willing to support the programme aimed at players as young as 10 years to the young adulthood.
He said Governor Parkop wanted the players identified while still in primary school and given the grounding in rugby league as well as experiencing what elite level football was like and having the necessary attitude and traits needed to be a successful footballer at club, Digicel Cup, Hunters and Kumuls level.
“This is a great way to help us identify and develop young talent,” Lulu said.
He said the academy would make use of the coaches and trainers available in the city to transfer their knowledge to the next generation of talent in a coordinated manner.
“The NCDC sports desk will be actively involved in this programme to ensure that resources are provided for its success.”
So far in Digicel Cup only two franchises, the Lae Tigers and Agmarkl Gurias, have established academy programmes in place.
The Goroka Lahanis have recently started their junior programme under former PNG Kumul Glenn Nami.