PNG Pepes

This is in preparation for next month's Netball World Cup 2019 Regional Qualifier- Oceania in New Zealand.

"Training has been going really well for the last four weeks," said In-Country coach, Richanda Kassman.

"Towards the end of March, it will be cut down to the final 12 players."

The Pepes will be up against other Pacific island countries including Samoa, Fij, Cook Islands and Tonga.

"It's an exciting time for our girls. This tournament will be a challenging one but our girls will be ready."

48 players ranging from ages 14 and up took part in the two days the trials were run at the Rita Flynn courts, Port Moresby.

Mentor, Christine Carswell said from the 48 players, between 20-25 players will be selected. This will further be trimmed down to the final 15 after another training camp in February.

“This will be for the Netball World Cup qualifiers that will be held in April of this year. We have to finish first or second to secure a spot in the 2019 Netball World Cup that will be held in the United Kingdom.”

The PNG netball team will be eyeing the World Cup Qualifiers in April, to be staged in New Zealand this time around.

The open trials will give national selectors the chance to observe players’ fitness and skills for a possible train on squad to make the team to Auckland for the Netball World Cup Qualifiers 2018.

After a successful finish at the Vanuatu 2017 Pacific Mini Games, PNG Pepes are confident that they can maintain their gold medal winning performance as they prepare for the world qualifiers.

An open selection trial will be held at the Rita Flynn netball courts on the 20^th and 21^st of this month.

PNG Netball Federation is sending out an important notice to advise players intending to make the cut for the PNG national netball team, Pepes, to turn up for the open trials on the 20^th and 21^st of January, 2018.

The open trials will give national selectors the chance to observe players’ fitness and skills for a possible train on squad to make the team to Auckland for the Netball World Cup Qualifiers 2018.

The trials are set to run from January 20^th to the 21^st at the Rita Flynn netball courts.

Trials will run from 8am to 4pm daily.

Meantime word from Netball PNG is that further information will be circulated shortly via all media outlets.

The 2019 Netball World Cup itself will be held in Liverpool, England.

Pepes’ young side were pushed to the edge by a very physical Tongan netball side.

The gold medal play off in the netball finals at the VAN2017 Pacific Mini Games was between PNG and Tonga – both teams undefeated.

Tonga took on Solomon Islands in their first encounter while PNG took on Vanuatu…this time though, the two nations came out with all guns blazing.

Tonga had the bigger and taller players, causing PNG to trail in the opening quarter 17 goals to 12.

10 teams participated in the fundraiser that included Credit Corporation, PNG Ports, Bank South Pacific and Steamships.

Netball PNG president, Julienne Leka, expressed her thanks for the support shown from the government and corporate sector.

“This is something new that we wanted to try. It’s been a fantastic day and we’re looking to make this an annual event.”

Wing-attack for the PNG Pepes, Jacklyn Lahari, said preparations for the Pacific Mini Games are going well.

“The key objective is to raise funds to support our national netball team’s participation at its forthcoming international commitments, including the 2017 Pacific Mini Games Vanuatu and the World Cup Qualifier in Auckland, New Zealand, scheduled for April 2018,” said Netball PNG president, Julienne Leka.

“We hope you or your good company can support this worthy cause by registering a 4-member team at K1,500/per team.”

Mona-Lisa Leka can be contacted on 7190 7775 for finer details on registration and other relevant information.