Participant turnout draws attention to city’s basketball growth

Sports

A big turnout during the inaugural Twilight Basketball session has proven to the Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea that the code is popular and needs more programmes to enhance its growth in the country.
Held at the Taurama Aquatic Centre last Friday, the attendance of 319 participants exceeded the federation’s opening night expectations.
BFPNG executive officer Joel Khalu said that it was encouraging to have that many people attend in the first week of the six-week programme.
“We have done a lot of work promoting the programme over the past month and were hoping to get about a hundred players on court. To crack 300 really shows the popularity that basketball has right now here in Port Moresby.”
Khalu acknowledged the presence of senior players who attended and the positive comments they made in commending BFPNG for the initiative.  He said with the positive start,  more participants were expected. “We’re going to utilise an additional court this coming week to make sure everybody gets the opportunity to play,” Khalu said.
Twilight Basketball is a BFPNG ‘Hoops for Health’ project, which is being delivered under the national federation’s community engagement strategy.
It has been made possible through support and funding by the International Basketball Foundation, the Federation of International Basketball and the Australian government’s Pacific Sports Partnership programme.