BSP conducts financial literacy training for athletes in Lae

By BRADLEY MARIORI
BANK South Pacific conducted a financial literacy training workshop in Lae yesterday to help athletes manage their savings for life after sports.
The HPSPNG (high performance sport Papua New Guinea) has requested for the training as part of an effort to use sports to boost personal development and life skills.
HPSPNG lifestyle officer Nehemiah Zena said training was for elite athletes.
“Our lifestyle performance programme is also a first for Lae and we hope to conduct more of such trainings,” Zena said. “We expected more than 20 elite athletes to come for the training but due to personal commitments, few managed to attend.
“High Performance Sports PNG and PNG Sports Foundation (PNGSF) staff also attended the training which will help them manage whatever resources they have.
“The athletes are part of the national soccer, basketball, netball and powerlifting teams. Others who attend the recent Pacific Games were also in attendance.
“The purpose of the training is to help athletes to save, budget and manage the money earned through sports.”
PNGSF educator and mentor Alfred Tei said athletes were trained without life skills and found it difficult to cope with life after sports.
“That’s why we decided to help them save so once they retire, it can help them.
“We believe that a lot of athletes lack financial knowledge. They can be famous but when they go back home, they return to square one.
“More training is needed to help athletes with life after sports.”