Amoa fly high

 By HENRY MORABANG

AFTER 35 years the Papua New Guinea Volleyball Federation has finally reached a milestone with two beach and two indoor teams playing for medals in the 2013 Pacific Mini Games in Wallis and Futuna.

Acting president Bernard Alu said the team won three out of four medals on offer, the most important of which was the gold medal win by the Amoa men’s team.

“It was seven months ago that we got this national team in place and went through lot of hardships and hurdles,” Alu said.

“It came to a stage that we were not going to make it to the Mini Games but my executives and the team management made it our business to ensure the team was to attend.”

He said the achievements by the Amoa beach volleyballers winning silver in the women’s and men for bronze and the Amoa indoor women missing bronze after losing to Fiji and the men winning gold was unique and historical as for the first time the four teams played in medal playoffs in an international event.  

“This is historical for PNG Volleyball and I am emotional but humbled by the results and performances of these great players who are our heroes and now legends.

“But most of all I give honour and glory to God for this big achievement”.  Alu, who was elected as vice president of the PNG Volleyball Federation only four years ago, is a happy man. 

“We have achieved from this Amoa men’s team – silver in Oceania, bronze in the last Pacific Games and now the gold medal and from beach volleyball silver and bronze,” he said.

Alu thanked the families and parents of his players for their patience and sacrificing family time for the past seven months.

He thanked his executives, the team management and Aaron Alsop, from the Gold Coast Institute of Sports Academy, for his guidance and nurturing of the team.