Touch Football Papua New Guinea executives are in full throttle preparing for the National Provincial championships.
Port Moresby will host the event from August 27-29.
All the matches will be held at Port Moresby Rugby League grounds.
The tournament will see the cream of PNG’s top players touching down in the nation’s capital with hopes to secure a spot in the national side.
In a press release on Monday, TFPNG stated that the event is focused on selecting quality players in both the junior divisions - Under-18, Under 20 and the Open division.
“International events aimed at and based on selection and preparation are the Youth World Cup (YWC) in Auckland in January next year and the Mini SP Games in Cook Island in May 2009,” the press release stated.
Participating provincial teams are advised to confirm their number of teams and to submit their entry forms before the end of this month.
Team registration is K50 and individual player registration fee is K30.
So far seven provinces are confirmed to attend the titles.
The teams are NCD, Enga, New Ireland, West New Britain, East New Britain, Milne Bay and Morobe.
Madang and Eastern Highlands provinces are yet to confirm their entries.
Team entries are: Open men, women and open mix, senior men, senior women, senior mix, masters +35 men and Under-18 and Under-20 men and women.
Each province is required to enter three divisional teams to qualify to attend and one of the three teams must be a women’s team.
Affiliated associations are required to submit names of referees to assist at this event.
All applications will be screened by the referees co-ordinator John Bonot.
TFPNG is also seeking sponsorship from business houses to assist in their preparations for the event. Donations in cash and kind will be appreciated.
The winning province will be awarded the cup with the highest gold medal count, at the conclusion of the NPTC.
The statement said that TFPNG was banking on provincial governments and other local level governments to step forward and support the touch tournament as the concept is to fly the provincial flag and carry the same colours of the flags on the uniforms, with both financial and in kind support.
This medal and cup format has changed to adopt and prepare the athletes with the same format played at the South Pacific Games and World Touch Cup championships.
TFPNG will be selecting players, managers and coaches for all the above events during the NPTC and provide lead up games and coaching and training sessions in between to prepare for the mini SP Games, the SP Games and the World Cup championships.
TFPNG last participated at the World Cup in 1999 in Sydney, Australia.
For more information contact Monica Paul (tournament co-ordinator) on 638 8276 or email to dakotatribe@gmail.com; Seseve Lae (assisting tournament Coordinator) on 326 2179 or email: seslae@daltron.com.pg and email John Bonot (referee co-ordinator — jbonot@bsp.com.pg.

Source: Post Courier (http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20080716/wehome.htm)