Wigmen eye Tari base

 By JOHN PANGKATANA

THE Kemele Hela Wigmen Digicel Cup rugby league franchise will develop their own home-base in Tari.

They share the late Joe Keviame Oval in neighbouring Southern High­lands with the PRK Mendi Mu­ruks franchise as their home-ground.

Wigmen franchise chairman An­dy Hetra said in time they would make that move but at this stage they needed to develop a strong foundation for the future.

“We are not only about promoting rugby league as we see ourselves as the vehicle that will build that pathway for development to reach our marginalised people,” Hetra said.

He said to do that they needed a lot of help, especially from companies that did business in Hela.

To kick-start their plans, the Wigmen will be hosting a major fundraising dinner at the Dynasty Seafood Restaurant at Vision City, in Port Moresby, tonight.

Hetra said they had the support of their three MPs in Francis Potape (Komo Magarima), James Marape (Tari Pori) and Philip Undialu (Koroba Lake Kopiago), with Governor Anderson Agiru leading from the front.

He said the Wigmen squad had 14 players who were identified from the Komo, Koroba, Hulia, Magarima and towards Porgera local leagues.

“The leadership provided by Joseph Omai and David Loko will serve the Wigmen to establish themselves,” he said.

Hetra said a major landowner company and a trucking company that were associated with the liquefied natural gas project would be making their commitments on the night.

“We are calling on corporate entities operating in the province to come forward and back our cause in whatever way possible,” Hetra said.

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