Patak named Prime Minister’s XIII Kumuls captain

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister’s XII  Kumuls will be captained by  Agmark Rabaul Gurias fullback Albert Patak  this Saturday against the Australian team.

Patak is currently the Gurias winning premiership captain in the Digicel Cup and has got the nod ahead of other notable players in the team including Lae Snax Tigers captain Sydney Fred and senior players in David Loko (Tigers) and Sebastian Pandia (Vipers).

Tepend when announcing this said Patak is rewarded as being the premiership winning captain of the Gurias and also he is one of the few players who has experience in the side especially playing against an international team.

“Patak has been named as the captain of the Prime Minister’s XIII team because as a winning premiership captain and also one of the experience players on the side dominated by all Digicel Cup players, we feel he will lead the team this week,” Tepend said.

Tepend revealed also that SP Hunters and former Kumuls Sebastian Pandia will be assisting Patak on the leadership role.

“I think both Patak and Pandia are certain players to have most field possession in the game and they have been named as the captain and vice respectively,” Tepend said.

Meanwhile Tepend said he was concerned that one of his star player Charlie Simon is uncertain to take the field after going through MRI scan yesterday.

“ We will decide today at the training field whether he will run with the team this weekend or not. I think the MRI scan has disqualified and we can push him although I would really love him to be on the side,” Tepend said.

“ Simon is a good five eight which I will need but like I said, we can’t risk him and If I forced him to be in the team, his future will be in doubt if he sustain the same injury in this game against Australia. All this will be decided when we name the team tonight,” Tepend said.