Former Papua New Guinea Touch Football elite representative, Jerry Borg has won his first international championship title following his inclusion with the New York City Touch in the United States.
Currently based in the USA, NYC Touch Men'S 35s coach, Martin Scherzinger said Borg was spotted immediately at a tournament and was recruited ahead of the 2024 USA Touch Rugby Nationals.
“We spotted Jerry Borg immediately when he represented Philadelphia at our annual East Coast Tournament in New York City in the late summer,” Scherinzger said.
“His great turns of speed, the impeccable timing of his passes, and his virtuosic skill brought a dynamism into the game that could not be ignored. We immediately recruited him for our Nationals squad.”
He added that Borg quickly slotted into an effective role with a dynamic performance at the tournament, especially in the finals against Seattle.
“He was able to hypnotize our opponents into the wrong decision on defense by deploying slight variations on a set move, which always kept them guessing. His scores and assists made a key difference for us in a tightly-contested game,” Scherzinger stated.
“But what impressed us most about Jerry was not only his mesmerising skills, but his sportsman like character, showing deep respect for the opposition, genuine courage on the field (working, as he was, with an injury), and real depth of character.”
The West New Britain native is no stranger to the code following his national duties for Papua New Guinea in a few international test matches, including the renowned Touch World Cup where he was part of the Open Mix team, claiming PNG’s bronze medal at the 2015 TWC at Coffs Harbor in Sydney, Australia.
He also coached the Solomon Islands Touch Rugby teams during the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara.
Borg was able to feature among several USA elites who recently attended the 2024 Touch World Cup in England.
Scherzinger said, “NYC Touch has grown into a major club over the past decades. Located in one of the great centers of the world, the club is a gathering place for players from all across the globe.
“The inclusiveness of the club takes full advantage of the stunning diversity of the city and the world. In our squad alone, we have players from Australia to England, by way of the Bronx and Manhattan; from South Africa to Ireland and New Zealand, and now also from PNG.
“The team itself is an emblem of the PNG motto: Unity in Diversity.”
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