| Sports |
Parental guidance needed
PARENTAL guidance, encouragement and
support are vital in the development of an athlete at a young
age.
These are the ingredients of forming a successful athlete, says
Heriso Gahekave, the proud father of blossoming 14-year-old SP
Games medallist Poro Gahekave of Eastern Highlands province.
Despite her tender age, Poro bagged three medals in the recent
Apia Games – gold in 3000 metres steeplechase, a silver in
5,000m and bronze in 10,000m.
The Gahekaves are a close-knit family who hails from Kofika
village in Goroka district.
It was Poro’s father who as sports master at Asaroka Lutheran
High School near Goorka identified her talent and groomed her
through training and competitions to be what she is today.
“I never knew that she had the interest or talent in sports
until she was ten years old. One day Poro approached me and
asked if she could run in a competition I was busy organising,”
Gahekave recalled.
“I tried discouraging her because the distance was longer and I
didn’t want her to participate.” She however, persisted and got
her father’s approval, ran in the 3,000m event to finish first
to the surprise of everyone.
Then victories followed in the 5,000m and 10,000m events and she
has never looked back, nor has father Heriso.
“It was her determination and interest to compete that convinced
me to support her all the way in athletics,” Gahekave said.
Following her victories at Asaroka, she was selected to compete
in the second Highlands Momase regional athletics championships
last year where her talents were confirmed and she was given a
place at the National Sports Institute in Goroka which trained
her to her peak for the Apia Games.
In fact, young Poro was the main attraction and a role model for
many young athletes last week during the Highlands-Momase
regional athletics championships staged in Goroka.
Many young athletes from Madang, Lae and parts of the Highlands
posed for photograph with the youngster and those from urban
schools gave their autograph books to sign.
“We watched you run on television and we were proud that a young
girl like you can make it. I shared tears watching you finish
the race and win,” said a mother from Madang, Salome Patrick,
who brought her five-year-old daughter Winnie to shake hands
with Poro.
Father Gahakave said was encouraging to have parents provide all
the support to their children in any sporting codes.
“We as parents must identify the talents our kids possess and
provide the support necessary to further develop these talents,”
he said.
“The love, encouragement and support you provide your child will
psychologically boost her determination to succeed in whatever
sports he or she is competing in,
“By being a spectator and cheering while your kid is playing
give her the morale boost to compete,” he said.
Last month’s Highlands-Momase regional championships also
showcased a lot of interesting events. Many of these events saw
little kids as young as six-years old competing.
Goroka district fielded a very young athlete in six-year-old
Cedric Womola who was pooled to compete against 10-year and
14-year-olds. However, that did not worry him and he gave his
best shot.
His dad Sebby watched at the end of the track to see his boy
finish last among the much older kids.
“It is fun to watch him run. He is too young but the
determination he has in the sport will one day make him a person
to be reckoned wth,” he said.
National Sports Institute director Idris Kumbruwah, who opened
the athletics championship made a special mention of Poro.
“Many of you here will notice a young girl walking among you.
She is only 14 years old but made PNG proud when she won gold
medal in the 3000 metres steeplechase,” Kumbruwah said.
Her father Heriso attributes Poro’s win to some of the notable
former PNG rep athletes in form of distance runners Morris Manai
and Philip Kamane who had been encouraging Poro to be serious
with her practice drills.
He also acknowledged the assistance from the PNG Athletics Union
and the NSI.
However, Gahekave said that it was Poro’s determination to
compete which currently makes her an elite sports personality.
Poro picked up bronze in her first athletic event which was the
5,000m, behind Tahiti’s Gordon and 14-year-old Fijian Akesa
Drotini.
The event that really made Poro’s presence was the 3,000m
steeplechase. She led from start to finish and really raised the
eyebrows of officials from other competing island nations.
Last month’s Highlands-Momase regional championship witnessed
many young athletes – from 14 to 16 to 18 years – competing in
various field and track events.
And Poro had a big hand in helping Goroka district win the
championships from her former school Asaroka high school. Madang
finished third with 94 points while Morobe Two which displayed
strong pace in the junior men’s sprint events finished fourth
wth 83 points.
 
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