The Hela Wigmen Digicel Cup team will be playing out of a new stadium if all goes well by next year thanks to Governor Francis Potape.
The Hela Governor announced this on Thursday during a media conference after sealing a tourism development partnership with the Tourism Promotion Authority.
During this occasion Tourism and Culture Minister Tobias Kulang presented K100,000 on behalf of TPA to kickstart the Hela Tourism Development Program.
Governor Potape said it was time for the Hela Wigmen to have a venue of their own to play from.
“We should not continue to play out of Mendi. We now have a province of our own…Hela, so our Hela Wigmen must play from Tari,” Governor Potape highlighted.
He added that having the Hela Wigmen to play from Tari would promote sports tourism in the new Hela Province.
“Hela Wigmen have played against other teams at their own home grounds. We have played Port Moresby Vipers, Agmark Guria, the Eagles at their home grounds, but now we want them to come and play the Wigmen at their home ground in Tari,” Governor Potape said.
The Governor said the Hela Provincial Government has already budgeted K2 million for tourism development in the province and have set down K600,000 for the Hela Wigmen this year and for building of the new stadium.
He said works has already commenced in levelling the land for the stadium, and would be looking at opening the completed stadium and slotting Hela Wigmen’s historic first home game by next year.