Coach Aba hopeful of returning as player

By ROBINSON LEKA
FOLLOWING a major setback to his young playing career due to a knee injury, Baundo Aba has rose to rugby league stardom again – but this time as a coach.
The former SP Hunter claimed the Digicel Cup coach of the year award following a breakout 2021 campaign with his provincial side, Waghi Tumbe.
The Jiwaka native’s journey into coaching was unexpected, but it was one chapter in his career for which he was grateful.
Leading Tumbe to the grand final against eventual champions Lae Tigers, Aba said he had gained a lot of experience as a coach despite his men losing 10-16.
The 27-year-old admitted that it was still a new feeling to him as the coaching job at Tumbe was one he had never expected in the first place.
“I’m speechless, it’s something different,” he told The National.
“I’m just surprised that a young and inexperienced coach like me would get this honour.
“But at the end of the day, all the glory for this award goes back to God.

“The decision to move into this role came from the franchise board, so they appointed me as the coach.
“I knew I had some more years of playing rugby league left, so I wanted to reject the role.
“But in the end, I just decided to give in to the call from the franchise and try out coaching.
“As a player transiting into coaching, it was really complicating for me.
“But I eventually picked up on a few things along the way from the team’s coaching staff and from other senior mentors like former Hunters coach Michael Marum.
“They were the ones who advised me and provided tips on how to manage the team and our structures.
“So I just fed off their advice and was fortunate enough to get this far in the season with my team.”

“ I’m just surprised that a young and inexperienced coach like me would get this honour. But at the end of the day, all the glory for this award goes back to God.”

Finishing third, Tumbe recorded nine wins from 11 games this season with their attack built around Tumbe skipper Joe Frank, who also played alongside Aba at the South Pacific Brewery-sponsored Hunters.
Joining Frank in Tumbe’s backline arsenal were fellow strike centre Valentine Wamdi, flashy fullback Jesse Mathews, and talented halves Saki Peter and David Joseph.
Despite the amount of talent in Tumbe’s roster this year, Aba said discipline and commitment provided the turning point to their campaign.
“When I see the players who have joined our 2021 side, they’ve all improved from previous years.
“Those players who were with other Digicel Cup side, they had all changed in the way they carried themselves.
“The thing that really helped me as a coach was the commitment and discipline from everyone in the team this year.
“They all listened to me and they respected what I had to say, and that’s what I think made a big difference for us this year.”
While Aba has enjoyed the highs and lows of coaching in the Digicel Cup, the forward said he had more to offer as a player.
Aba’s campaign was cut short after he had sustained a knee injury while playing for Tumbe last season. He said his rehabilitation would determine whether he would continue coaching or take the field next season.

“I’m still resting my knee which I injured a year ago,” Aba said.
“If I can recover in time for kick-off next year, I’ll be back on the field.
“I don’t want to think too much about it but I will be patient with my body in the offseason.
“I’m hopeful of making a full recovery and returning to the game.
“I still have a lot of goals that I want to achieve as a player.
“I brought my team all the way to a grand final as a coach.
“But I want to see if I can do it as a player.”