Wara back as Blacks’ mentor of

THE Western Blacks club in the Goroka Rugby League competition saw the return of one of longest-serving coach Sak Wara for the 2021 season.
Wara is one of the pioneer women’s rugby league coaches in Eastern Highlands and Goroka Rugby League who is a long-time resident of West Goroka’s Black Kona.
Wara along with the help of PNG Orchid and founding captain for the Blacks women’s team, Gloria Kaupa, managed to get their team registered to participate in the Goroka Rugby League competition this season after a three-year absence.
The Blacks had been out of competition since 2017 after the club was unable to secure funding to participate with players moving to other clubs to play.
The unavailability of sponsors did not deter this local club with players and supporters continuing to find other avenues to source funding and steadily develop the rugby talent from West Goroka.
“The women’s team was initially established in 2015 for the youths of West Goroka and the club is called Western Blacks because it is located in West Goroka, Black Kona and the youths participating in the club are all from the surrounding area,” he said.
“When the club was first formed in 2004, it had a very big influence in the lives of our youths here and for me as a local growing up here I began to see how the game had changed how we behave both on and off the field.

“I saw a big change in the youths today, unlike what it was in my time, now it is different and it’s for the better.
“Our area in Goroka always had a rich history in playing rugby so when they saw me taking up coaching, all the youths came to train and play for Western Blacks.”
With his experience in coaching school boys, Under-20s and women’s rugby league for the past 20 years Sak Wara decided to step in again for the women’s side he was once a part of.
Wara started his coaching career back with the national schools rugby league (formally known as the school boys competition) coaching West Goroka Primary School where his side held the title as champions in Goroka for five years.

“Women’s rugby league in Eastern Highlands was first introduced in Goroka in 2014 by one of our legendary musician and Waghi Hell Cats lead singer Pat Siwi and that’s where I came in as a coach and I’m still here today supporting our young talents in the province.”
During the course of these five years at Goroka Primary School he also coached the Lopi Sisters during the weekends where he won the title for five consecutive years before leaving to coach the Western Blacks.
“From the record, Western Blacks have produce two Papua New Guinea Orchids so far in Gloria Kaupa and Rachael Kawa,” he said.
“This year I’m coaching a very young side and we’re struggling at the moment but the girls have learned very fast and with no real taste at this level of competition.
“The talent and determination from the girls here is something that will be an inspiration to people like me standing as a coach.
“I’m very determined to push these young girls to the limit and see where we will go this year.”
The Blacks have recorded three wins, three losses and two draws from eight rounds so far in the Goroka Rugby League.