Basketballer racing to sort out dual citizenship

By JACK AMI
CHRISTIAN Pang is facing a race against time to get his dual citizenship in order to represent the country in the national men’s basketball team at the 2019 Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa.
Pang’s inclusion gives the team a strong chance of winning a medal, according to the Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea (BFPNG).
BFPNG is calling on Prime Minister James Marape, who is also the sports minister, to intervene and help find a solution so he can fly to Apia tomorrow.
Fiba Oceania requires players to have passports and other relevant documents in order for players to represent their country and that is something Pang is trying to meet.
Women’s basketballer Peninah Javapro is also facing the same issue.
Pang said he had been assured by the relevant authorities that it would be cleared by March 21.
According to Pang, his father James has paid the registration fee of K15, 000 as required for dual citizenship.
Both his parents were born in Rabaul, East New Britain, and Pang is keen to give something back to the country by representing PNG at the Games..
His dad represented PNG at the Pacific Games in wind surfing, and brother Adrian competes in mixed martial arts around the world.
BFPNG president Nick Daroa and Karo Lalei are keeping their fingers crossed and are hoping that the migration office approves Pang’s dual citizenship today.
Daroa said Pang, 21, was one of the finest basketball players secured from a high-level competition in Australia.
He said with the youngster’s inclusion, the national men’s basketball team had a very good chance of winning the gold medal in the Samoan capital.