PNG Lae Tigers name team to face Fiji's Nadi Aviators in Melanessian Challenge Cup

THE Lae Tigers have named their team to represent Papua New Guinea in the Melanesian Cup Championship (MCC) against the Fiji’s Nadi Aviators this Saturday at Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka.

Tiger’s coach Stanley Tepend said the players have been in training over the last two months in preparation for the Melanesian Cup Challenge. “We are focused, the players seem confident and we should be looking forward to a strong match,” he said. “However we still need to work on some areas before the trip and the relocation to Port Moresby with the Hunters will help,” Tepend added. “Rabaul Gurias won it the first year and we were looking forward to this not only for the Tigers and their families but for PNG as a whole,” Tepend said.

Tepend added that they are ready to give their best shot to bring the Cup back to PNG. Tigers have dedicated this weekend’s Cup challenge in honor of franchise owner and huge supporter of rugby league in Lae, the late Sir Henry Chow, OBE, who passed away last month.

They will have a moment of silence before the match kickoff and will wear black armbands as a sign of respect to late Chows family. The Tigers team: Robert Vuai, Enoch Sine, Anderson Bedford,Charles Martin, Pasu Awane, Charlie Simon(c), Mafu Kalas, Timothy Lomai, Noel Joel, Junior Rop, David Loko, Bernard Lama, John Andy, Wersa Tenza, Warren Glare, Ali Pinda and Ryan Kiso. Tepend said their youngest player Billy Paul could not make the side due to school commitments. The team left for Fiji via Cairns at 10am today. Post Courier/ PNG Today