PNG Netball received a major boost on Thursday when Digicel, PNG’s leading telecommunications provider announced major sponsorship of the prestigious National Netball Championships 2011 and 2012 and also the Netta Schools Program 2011 and 2012 and has earned the right as title sponsor of the country’s dominant female sporting competition.

The week long Digicel National Netball Championships 2011 will start on Monday 26^th September through to Sunday 2^nd October in Port Moresby with an estimated 17 netball associations from throughout the country set to take part in the competition. Over 1, 500 players in both the Junior and Senior divisions are expected to converge at the Rita Flynn Netball Courts next week for the national showdown.

Digicel’s sponsorship will greatly assist organizers of the competition, PNG Netball, as the communications company has committed K20, 000 annually to the Digicel National Netball Championships and a total of K16, 000 for the Digicel National Schools Program 2011 and 2012.

Lorna McPherson, Digicel PNG Operations Director said; “Digicel is passionate about the development of sport in PNG and we are extremely proud to be associated with PNG Netball and to support their efforts towards promoting and developing the sport of netball for women and girls in PNG. We wish all the teams every success in their games and we look forward to a bigger better Digicel National Netball Championships this year and in 2012.”

In acknowledging the generous sponsorship and support, President of PNG Netball Ms Julienne Leka-Maliaki said; PNG Netball is extremely delighted to be in partnership with Digicel for this new and mutual relationship between the telecommunications giant and the largest women participating sports in PNG and we aim to be good ambassadors for Digicel throughout the partnership program. We are also grateful for the support towards the Schools Netta program which will be rolled out from October – December 2011 in the NCD”.

The main objective of the Netta program is to encourage young girls to participate in the game of netball under a specifically tailored program which will include coaching and mentoring of qualified local coaches and members of the National team “Pepes”. PNG Netball will also identify talent at the school level for its development programs which will be rolled out throughout the country in 2012 and beyond.

This year’s tournament will see a greater participation of current and new members who have affiliated to PNG Netball. Newcomers will include teams from the Gulf, West New Britain and Western provinces and there will be fair representation from the Momase, Southern and Highlands regions.

ENDS