By CHARLIE DUMAVI
A disappointed SP Hunters Coach, Stanley Tepend said Digicel Cup franchises must have some form of respect by not plucking out players in Hunters pre-season camp pending the final squad is named.
He said the Digicel Cup teams are open to talk to the players because after all the players in Hunters will go back to play in Digicel Cup if they do not make it to the final team.
However, Tepend said there must be respect in the process.
The SP Hunters Head Coach expressed this disappointment after EMK Sepik Pride pluck out PNG Kumuls and Hunters hooker Wartovor Puara Junior who is one of the cores of the team from their (Hunters) pre-season camp.
“It is disappointing that he has gone because we’ve worked hard with him over the pre-season. But all the best to him (Puara),” Tepend said.
“We respect all the Digicel cup teams and not stopping them from communicating with our players but we would like to have respect just to notify the coaching staff on what their intentions are.
The players will go back to play in the Digicel Cup if they don’t make the Hunters when the season starts and we want to build that relationship for the start and not just come and pick players anywhere,” Tepend said.
He, however added that it is the will of the players to make their decision regarding their future and the Hunters respect that decision made by Puara.
“But all the best to the Pride and all the best to Watovo.”
Meanwhile, Tepend said despite having a number of experience players departing the pre-season leading up to the season kick-off, they (Hunters players) are content with the team in camp.
“I think we got enough experience guys here to cover up, even though we lost some notable players. Experience counts for a little bit but it’s a team game so everybody must do their part. That is what we want to encourage.
We don’t rely on one or two players even though the experience is good and it just helps, but we’ll just focus on who we have” Tepend said.
For the lead up to the season 2023 kickoff, Hunters have only played a trial match with Central Queensland Capras to finalize their team for the 2023 Hostplus season 2023.
Every player in the pre-season is given an opportunity to prove their worth to be on the final Hunters squad.
