Funding woes hinder NCD flexing crew

Normal, Sports
Source:

The National, Tuesday 14th May 2013

 By JACK AMI

THE National Capital District Body Building Association has selected 12 bodybuilders to attend the national titles on June 8 in Kokopo.

The team needs K17,220 for the cost of travel and other expenses.

NCDBBA president Canny Cooper and four competitors Peter Dai, Steven Simon, Iso Finch and former Mr PNG Lucas Wemin told The National that they were prepared to defend their title.

Cooper said the biggest obstacle for them was funding  as most  athletes were unemployed.

“We’re representing NCD and putting the city up there but Governor Powes Parkop, National Capital District Commission, the corporate sector and government agencies don’t seem too interested in supporting us,” Cooper said.

He said most of the bodybuilders were residents of Moresby North East but could not get any support from local MP Labi Amaiu either.

In previous championships competitors met their own costs but to raising the required K1600 levy fee was proving difficult.

The 12-man team is Nick Aine, Vincent Nafe, Lucas Wemin, Canny Cooper, Steven Simon, Iso Finch, Peter Dai, Tony Ade, Imbak Wiape, Joe Kulame, Nathan Yagiora and Johnny Gland.

They will be competing against body builders from Lae, Goroka, Simbu, Pogera, Jiwaka, Rabaul, Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Kimbe and Manus over the various weight classes.

Wemin is confident of wrestling the title from the current champion Jack Viyufa of Goroka.

The NCD elites will be vying for selection for the South Pacific Body Building championship in October in Tonga and World Titles in Europe at the end of the year.