Cricket launches annual programme

CRICKET Papua New Guinea launched their Kriket Blo Olgeta Programme last week at the Red Cross Special Resource Education Centre, in the Hohola suburb of Port Moresby.
Hebou PNG Barramundis coach Dipak Patel also presented shirts, shoes and caps to the students.
The items were donated by sporting bodies and sponsors from Patel’s home country, New Zealand.
With the aim of the KBOP is to promote cricket as an inclusive game played by all sectors and people in society, regardless of mental or physical disability. KBOP co-ordinator Susan Komang of Cricket PNG told the gathered students: “The programme has been running now for three years, and it has been slowly gaining momentum.
“We have seen students with special needs confidently playing cricket, understanding the game and becoming fans of the sport,” she said.
Komang thanked the staff and teachers of The Red Cross SREC for being supportive of the programme since its inception in 2014, and she hoped that they continued to support the programme. Red Cross SREC coordinator Joseph Kaei said: “People talk about being inclusive but they don’t come to this level.
“But Cricket PNG have come directly to the students, and for that we are very grateful.”
Going forward Komang hopes to introduce hard ball cricket to the KBOP, stating that the students have displayed great cricketing ability that warrants the introduction of the hard ball.
Cricket PNG hopes to roll out the programme to the other eight cricket-playing provinces in PNG.
They include the Eastern Highlands, Western Highlands, Milne Bay, West New Britain, Oro, Morobe and Jiwaka.
Komang also acknowledged the support of the Australian Government through its Pacific Sports Partnership Programme for making the Kriket Blo Olgeta Programme a reality.
Also present at the launch were Barramundis players Norman Vanua, Chad Soper and captain Assad Vala, who had recently return from a stint overseas.