The Erima Magpies Rugby Team took the initiative to host a Cleanathon around the Erima community to help raise funds for the team as contenders in any off-season rugby league competition in Port Moresby this year.
Erima Magpies recently secured a spot in the Top 24 teams of the Gerehu Rugby League tournament to qualify in the Quarter finals playoffs.
The players from both the A and B Grade Divisions started the Cleanathon at around 6am on Saturday cleaning up the streets around the suburb.
From sweeping the roads, cutting grasses, cutting flower hedges, raking and even patching the potholes along the main roads.
Senior A Grade player, Mr Handape Tatape said the money that the players received during the Cleanathon will go towards prepping and purchasing some basic stuff for the team in preparation for their games.
“I really admired the enthusiasm, support and interest from the boys and it has really shown that our team is made up of youths that are very hardworking and can go out of their way to make something happen”, said Handape Tatape.
He said that Rugby has taken the boys away from engaging in criminal activities within the community and thanked the GRL competition for organizing such competitions like rugby to keep the boys busy.
The Erima Magpies team have come a long way and are active participants in Rugby Competitions around Port Moresby down the years.
One of the team players, Costen Kaira said this was a very good initiative set up by the club leaders and it has taught them a lesson to be responsible.
“I am happy to give back to my community by taking part in this initiative to clean around suburb I live in and I thank the leaders of the club for organizing such activities”, said Costen.
The Erima Magpies are hoping to maintain their standard in playing rugby and they are hoping to play to the best of their abilities in any up and coming competitions.
