Bodybuilders unhappy with lack of support

 By JACK AMI

THE National Capital District Body­builders Association scooped one gold and five silver medals during the national championships in Kokopo last week.

The gold medal was won by association president Cooper Canny, who defended his title in the 70kg division.

Silver medals went to Iso Finch (70kg), Joe Kulame (65kg), Peter Dai (80kg), Vincent Nafe (85kg) and Nick Aina (75kg).

Canny was impressed with the efforts of the six-man team who paid their own expenses to attend the tournament.

The only exception was Finch, who was supported by his employer, Hotel Hodava.

The majority of them are unemployed youths and were unable to raise enough money to travel.

Canny said 12 bodybuilders were supposed to have represented NCDBBA but six pulled out because of a lack of financial support. 

“It’s very sad that former Mr PNG title holder Lucas Wemin did not attend the event,” he said.

He said that was very disappointing as all the bodybuilders represented the National Capital District but were not supported by Governor Powes Parkop, Moresby North-East MP Labi Amaiu, Sports and Pacific Games Minister Justin Tkatchenko, Health Minister Michael Malabag, the National Capital District Commission and the corporate sector in the nation’s capital.

“We are all looking forward for the selections for the South Pacific Bodybuilding championships in Ton­ga in October and development squad to Queensland.” 

Kulame is the gold medallist from the Pacific Games in 2007 in Samoa and came ninth in the world championship in South Korea. He took a break after the Pacific Games until 2012 before making a comeback.

“Like the other sportsman and woman they are preparing for the 2015 Pacific Games in PNG,” Canny said. “To achieve our dreams we need all the support from all NCD politicians and business houses in the nation’s capital.”