By HENRY MORABANG
TO make Papua New Guinea the number one sporting nation in South Pacific region is the question. Can be, or cannot be done, this is the major question now posed by the sport administrators as they looked back at a challenging year that produced very little in terms of sporting achievements to be proud of.
Hopefully this question will be answered in the next 12 months through the new sports policy launch and the setting up of PNG Sports Foundation and its agent, PNG Trust Fund.
PNG Sports Foundation takes over the functions of PNG Sports Commission to administer sports in the country as well as amalgamate certain functions of PNG Sports Federation.
The PNGSF was three years in the making, and was hailed as major achievement for sports, apart from the individual sports and the Team PNG’s participation at the XIII South Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa, in August-September.
Sports that were expected to bring in gold medals did not perform to expectations, and PNG as the largest country in the region finished a pitiful fourth behind smaller New Caledonia, host Samoa and Fiji.
Following the Apia Games, another major highlight was the tour of Wales and France by PNG national rugby league team, the Kumuls. This was to prepare PNG for next year’s Rugby League World Cup in Australia
According to coach Adrian Lam, the tour was necessary and an eye-opener for the players and the development of the rugby league code in the country.
Lam said that as a former player he observed that PNG lacked international experience and exposure and the ability to adjust quickly to different climates.
“The tour was designed in a way so that the cream of Kumul players could experience this and get a feel for overseas travel and the awareness of being on the tour with a group of people which is part of the preparation for the World Cup this year,” he said.
The results though were disappointing – a thrashing by Wales, a non-Rugby League member, and two losses to French national sides.
Back home, the national rugby league scene through the SP Cup competition was excellent overall except for Toyota Miok and Mendi Muruk players booked for their bringing the game into disrepute with off-field incidents.
Rugby union also had its share of problems, although in terms of funding MRDC was the major sponsor at international tournaments.
The game’s image took a nosedive following the much publicised on-board scuffle by drunk players returning from the Singapore Sevens. On field the team did poorly as well.
Rugby executive Graham Osborne who is a no nonsense administrator had this to say, “this was the last trip for the player concerned as it has done a lot of damage to the code.”
Soccer had a good year on paper but in real terms, the non-attendance of senior men’s team and the youth team to the South Pacific Games and the Oceania World Cup qualifier did not go down well with soccer populace.
PNG Football Association president David Chung’s administration copped all the blame for their ineffectiveness in ensuring the men’s team travelled however, the gold medal performance by the women’s team in Apia overshadowed the all the disappointments.
The inaugural MRDC Sevens soccer tournament was won by Hekari United football club as part of their preparation for the NSL season.
NSL competition now into its second season and is expected to get bigger and better in the coming season despite minor hiccups - one postponed game due to travel problems to Goroka, and spectators’ harassment in Madang.
Back to the South Pacific Games, the eight gold medals haul in swimming by PNG sensation Ryan Pini was one of the many highlights.
Pini’s performance also propelled him to qualify for the Olympic Games in Beijing later next year, and the Sportsman of the Year at the 2007 SP Sports Awards.
A major problem in swimming is who will fill in for Pini when he quits, most probably after Beijing? Is there any more Pini in the swimming pool in Port Moresby, apart from overseas?
Other sports which performed well at the South Pacific Games included weightlifting, boxing, softball and hockey.
Among those who did not excel were netball a gold medal prospect – we had to be content with silver – and powerlifting, a letdown for PNG after much publicity of gold medals predicted for all the lifter.
The Arafura Games in Darwin also was an eye-opener for sports administrator. Long regarded as the venue for our development squads, this thinking should be cast aside as Darwin is now attracting more senior and professional sportsmen and women from the East-Asia and South Pacific region.
PNG Sports Foundation acting executive director John Kambuou wants all the sports to change their mentality and use Arafura Games as part of their international fixtures while they have been given the green light for gold medal winners of the PNG Games as token of appreciation.
And this year’s hosting of the third PNG Games in Lae was a resounding success according to organizers. The two-week event attracted athletes from most provinces to take part in 17 sports (see separate story on this page). Apart from promoting good sportsmanship, another pleasing theme of the Games was the dangers of HIV/AIDS among sportsmen and women.
Kickboxer Stanley Nandex and his kickboxing school deserved praise for attracting international competitors to Port Moresby.
Nandex through his connections in the sport brought international star Don “The Dragon” Wild to promote kickboxing. The Dragon was the major draw card for the annual Rest of the World versus PNG kickboxing challenge at Sir John Guise Stadium.
The two most popular sports softball and netball had a quiet 2007 season. Softball is now preparing for the World Cup games following their impressive gold medal win in both men and women at the Apia SP Games.
Netball under Emily Taule and Julianne Leka-Maliaki proved that PNG are still competitive in the region with their silver medal win.
Many womenfolks are hoping for a better when the new season comes, especially on the selection of the players.
Sports in general have nothing to be proud of, or boast about, when the National Budget was passed in November showing that sports would receive less funding next year.
All the sports have joined hand to congratulate their Sports Minister Dame Carol Kidu on her award as Pacific Person of the Year. Apart from sports, Dame Carol as minister responsible on social issue was honoured on her deeds.
Hopefully, as the Beijing Olympics draw nearer, the Government and relevant stakeholders will put their weight behind a Team PNG, however small, that we Papua New Guinean be truly proud of. Happy New Year!