Warriors carry Ahi pride in LRL
The National, Wednesday 8th May 2013
By GABRIEL LAHOC
THE Ahi Warriors second season in the Lae rugby league competition sees increased sponsorship for the only Morobean club.
The club, made up of the cream of rugby league talent from the six urban villages of Yalu, Kamkumung, Hengali, Butibam, Yanga and Wagang, last Thursday officially launched its new uniforms.
Ahi businesses of Riback Stevedores, Ahi Hope Foundation, BUP development company, Limki Gravel Suppliers and Detour joined forces to support the club, while Morobe Governor Kelly Naru, whose father is from Yalu, committed K10,000.
The club has former Kumul flyer and ex-Lae Snax Tigers coach Steve Malum as head coach and former Kumul captain John Wilshere, an Ahi local, is the players’ role model.
BUP Development Company managing director John Ngandang was happy to see the unity of young men from the six Ahi villages playing a sport not as popular as soccer, basketball and volleyball in the province.
“Rugby league is not traditionally a Morobe sport but it’s the way forward to engage and utilise the potential of our Ahi youth,” said Ngandang.
Riback Stevedores group operations manager George Gware said while the company was growing they were focused on addressing social issues affecting the Ahi people. “We are assessing each village to see how best to address them,” he said.