Wabo prepares for season

By PARKER TAMBUA
DIGICEL Cup champions Hela Wigmen have started recruiting for the upcoming season as coach Charlie Wabo eyes possible replacements for his stars who have joined the SP Hunters train-on squad.
The Hunters are yet to announce their final 30-man squad with Wigmen’s Judah Rimbu, Valentine Culligan, Samuel Yegip, Jeffery Robert, Gilmo Paul, Solo Wane, Norman Brown and Solomon Pokari looking to make the final cut.
“I have watched the National Capital District Governor’s Cup over the last couple of weeks and there are some potential talents that I’ve already identified,” Wabo told The National yesterday.
“There are about seven players that we’ve scouted, I won’t name them as we’re yet to finalise our train-on squad.
“Losing eight players to the Hunters would leave a huge void in our roster, although the final Hunters squad is yet to be announced.
“Some of the eight players may return, but we have to prepare for the worst-case scenario.
“We won’t only pick players from Port Moresby, we’ve already sent our scouts to Hela and other centres.
“We will also be keeping a close eye on the upcoming Ipatas Cup.
“We are looking to pick up from where we left of last season and we need talented players who can do that.”
The former Kumul, who also won the 2014 Digicel Cup title as a Wigmen player, said mentoring an inexperienced side would not be an issue as he had won the 2020 crown as a rookie coach with upcoming players.
“I have a great assistant coach and experienced trainers,” Wabo said. “They helped me develop my players into a formidable team and it paid dividends as we went on to claim the title.
The premiership wining coach said he was confident that they would recruit and prepare well for title defence.