THE Western Highlands women’s rugby league will receive K50,000 from Mt Hagen MP William Duma.
Hagen electoral officer Jim Pena announced it last Saturday after launching the 2014 women’s league seasons at the Rebiamul Oval.
Pena said that Duma’s vision was to help the youths through sports and all sports played in the electorate would receive the support from the MP.
He said that sport would become an area that would help to change the mind set of the people.
“This K50,000 is not a waste; it will help to bring many changes in the lives of women,” Pena said.
“Rugby league is a national sport and it is good that our women are taking part in this game.”
Pena said Duma would continue to invest in sports because it was his aim to develop Hagen.
“Rugby league is our number one sport and I am happy to see our women getting involved.
“This is what we called change. People must not wait for changes but they have to do something to change and to see our women taking part in rugby league means that there is a breakthrough.”
He said assistance would be provided to people who are doing things that would help to promote development in the electorate like sports.
Women’s rugby league president Elizabeth Lolo Bradshaw thanked Duma for the support.
She said even with the recent cabinet reshuffle Duma still had time to promote sport in his electorate.
“This is a big support and I’m happy with what is given to the women in Hagen electorate.
“This money will be used to run the competition and to promote the sport,” Bradshaw said.

WESTERN Highlands Women’s Rugby League president Elizabeth Lolo Bradshaw has praised the Eagles for winning the Country Rugby Football League tournament in Lae last month.
Bradshaw said the provincial women’s Western Highlands Eagles has made the people proud with their achievement.
Eagles defeated Goroka on December 8 to claim the title.
Bradshaw said her vision was to develop and promote women’s rugby league.
“I m very impressed with the performance of my provincial team and that means now that rugby league will be the game that will be used to change many women and girls’ (lives).”
She said it was a new sport to women in the province but had the potential to become bigger.
She said she was now looking forward to contribute players to the women’s national team to play in New Zealand next year.
She thanked Wendy Kohun women’s rugby league founder and administrator and PNG Rugby Football League director Russ Kaupa for their tireless effort to help grow women’s rugby league.
Bradshaw also praised the participating teams Banning, Fatima, Lae Jaka Bullets, Banz and Gororka for participating  in the tournament.
She said with her hard working executives Doreen Suponduo (secretary) Christina Memti (technical officer) Jonny Gigs (technical advisor) Dr Umba (doctor) and Clint M (coach and trainer) for the part they played in the team’s success.
She thanked the sponsors Governor Pais Wingti and the provincial government for contributing K10,000, Petroleum and Energy Minister and Hagen Open MP William Duma who gave K6000 as his personal contributions, Coca-Cola Amatail Mt Hagen branch which assisted with 40 T-shirts and caps and 10 cartoons of drinks, East West Transport, Eagle Fuel Distributors, Lipura Investment, Mathew Bradshaw and OILMIN.
She said without their support then Eagles would not have made it to the tournament.
“My aim now is to make this game become bigger and expand it towards the rural communities,” Bradshaw said.

The National

THE Papua New Guinea Women’s Rugby Football League inaugural national championship was launched yesterday at the Lae rugby league ground by president Wendy Kohun with Northern regional director Russ Kaupa.
The teams will fight for the Chinese Railway Construction & Engineering Cup.
A disappointed Kohum said the tournament initially planned to start on Monday was delayed because of late arrivals of participating associations from around the country.
Hosts Lae Bullets, Chimbu Ambai, Chimbu Bomagi, Hagen, Banj and Kunjil attended the launch, while Fatima, Minj, Goroka and National Capital District have confirmed they will still attend the day one of matches today as their travel arrangements were being delayed.
Bougainville, Kokopo and two Port Moresby teams have confirmed that they will not attend due to a lack of funding.
“Whether we have support or not we will still prove ourselves,” Kohun said.
“Rugby league is dominated by men and like them we will also go the hard way and sweat it out.” 
Kohun said despite the commitments and assurances, PNGWRL sadly was not getting enough attention and assistance.

WHILE all the focus is on the men, women are now putting a foot in the door for recognition at the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) annual general meeting in Lae on Saturday.
PNG Women’s Rugby League president Wendy Kohun yesterday said they would have their say at this AGM.
“What I can proudly say is that women’s rugby league will be drafted into the PNGRFL constitution,” she said.
“This is a milestone achieved for the last five years of struggling and now it will be finally sanctioned by the PNGRFL board.” She said the women would decide whether it wished to be a separate body