Telstars to commemorate 58th anniversary to honor club founder

The Enviro Telstars Netball club will celebrate a 58th milestone at the conclusion of the Port Moresby Netball Association with a planned gala event in October.

This esteemed event slated towards the end of the year is purposely to honor the club founder Veitu Diro and the success of Telstars since its inception in 1966.

Telstars has been a legacy club for women and girls in PNG netball for over five decades.
Formerly known as Demons Netball Club, Telstars has won 40 premierships, across 55 seasons since entering the premier netball competition in the country.

President Monalisa Leka said the club’s 58-year journey is accompanied with prominent and consistent participation in the POMNA competition, surrounded by family oriented values.

I think our success over the years has been due to the foundation set by Mrs. Diro and Mr. Diro,”

“We've had so many players that have come through this club, actually, all the teams in POMNA, the people that run the teams, the people that coach and the people who represented PNG…they, at some point in their life, started through here [Tesltars].

“So, we're sort of the foundation of Netball in Papua New Guinea, and I think our success has been from very strong principles.”

A pioneer club of the Port Moresby Netball Association, the Enviro Solutions PNG-sponsored outfit has produced some of the most outstanding netballers in the country and on an international front, representing PNG in the Pepes colors.

Telstars product in Rake Nope, Albertina Ehari Kabaru, Emily Maha, Kimberly Alex and president Leka are amongst some of the household names that have represented PNG in the trio jumper.

Ms Diro said her dedication and commitment to the sport was driven by her passion for netball where it all began at the Hohola courts, in Port Moresby.

“I've been a netballer and basketballer. When I first came out from the teachers’ college, I was teaching at Hohola. There were a lot of kids, so I thought of starting a school netball competition,” she recalled.

“When that finished, I also ran a basketball competition. After I had my first child, I thought, maybe it's time to do something not only for my school kids at my school but open it for other people.

“So, this is where we started with the help of a few expatriates.”

The club has 12 teams competing in POMNA competition with nine junior and three senior divisions sides.

Leka said their ultimate aim is for netball supremacy and the club is working towards that goal this season.

“As we strive towards better results at end of the year, we would also like to take this time to honor the founder of the club, Mrs Veitu Diro, who has been instrumental in the success of the club,” she said.

“In celebrating this event, the Club will be hosting a Gala Night after the end of the POMNA competition, and details of the Night will be shared during the course of the season.”

Meanwhile the club also received a timely sponsorship boost from Enviro Solutions PNG with a sponsor package of K25,000.