Waghi Tumbe to name squad, new management and board

By ELIAS LARI
Waghi Tumbe will name their final squad, a new team management and a board for the 2018 Digicel Cup competition on Sunday in Minj.
This will coincide with the Jiwaka Governors Cup grand final.
Franchise owner Fredrick Koldop, pictured, said the Jiwaka Governors Cup would add new faces to the Tumbe line-up. Koldop said he funded the Governor’s Cup tournament with K150,000 together with the Jiwaka provincial government for selectors to identify players for the provincial franchise.
Koldop’s company Giru Ltd is the official sponsor of the franchise, which will be known as Giru Waghi Tumbe in the 2018 Digicel Cup season. There are 12 teams in the Governor’s Cup competition — Anglimp Ku, Kudjip West, Kudjip Central, Kudjip East, Minj Central, Manda Kumbal Mates, Nondugl Kami, Jimi Country, Banz East, Banz West, Banz Central and Togoba Crushers.
A final squad made of players from these teams will be announced on Sunday along with board and management of the team.
The players will then go into camp to prepare for the Digicel Cup season which opens on March 25. Koldop said Waghi Tumbe were also looking at recruiting players from outside Jiwaka and Western Highlands.
“My dream now is to produce a good team for the people of Jiwaka through good management,” he said.
“This team is the flag carrier for the people of Jiwaka and this year Giru Ltd Waghi Tumbe will become one of the best teams in the competition.”
Koldop said bad management could destroy a good team and he would not allow that.
“I have big plans for the team here and as times goes on Tumbe will play professional football games,” he said.
“My aim is to see that rugby league is played to attract fans.”
Koldop said he was also happy that changes would be made to improve the standard of the game in Jiwaka.