Western sets up committee to push for team in Digicel Cup

By JACK AMI
A COMMITTEE has been set up to push for the inclusion of a Western franchise in the Digicel Cup next season to promote the province’s talent at the semi-professional level.
The Western Barramundis bid committee was announced in Port Moresby yesterday.
Governor Taboi Awi Yoto is expected to support the bid process with funding.
Members of the corporate sector in Western have also expressed support of the franchise.
Southern Confederate director Gwaibo Mairi accepted the committee’s expression of interest from Western Barramundis chairman Ron Coehn in the presence of vice-chairman Okopela Kaiyawa and treasurer Tony Waliya.
Other committee members are Kiunga Rugby League president Roy Kakarere, Bige Petroleum Ltd owner John Bige and secretary John Wamaro.
Mairi, who is also member of the committee, said as Southern Confederate director, he was proud that local businessman Coehn had accepted the chairmanship.
He said the committee had the backing of corporate sector in Western, provincial government and rugby league administrators, and would ensure that the expression of interest was considered by organisers of the Digicel Cup.
Mairi said Southern had 20 affiliated leagues under the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League. “This bid is a good one for Western’s pathway programmes with the abundance players they have in Daru, Kiunga, Tabubil and Balimo to be given the opportunity,” he said.
Coehn said the committee would now work on putting all the documents together to meet all the PNG National Rugby League requirements. “We have a good committee and I’m confident that everything will be on target when the expression of interest is submitted to PNGNRL.”