Hagen ward councillor sponsors volleyball, touch competitions

Sports

A WARD councillor in the Hagen urban local-level government area is sponsoring competitions for youths.
Ward eight councillor Samuel Maniat is sponsoring a volleyball competition for women and touch for boys and girls.
The competitions, played at Hagen Tee Primary School, have attracted 20 volleyball teams and 18 boys’ and girls’ touch teams.
Maniat said the competitions, which began in late September, would run for three months.
He said the sponsorship was aimed at keeping youths occupied during the festive period.
“I wants students on holidays and others living within my council ward to keep away from marijuana, homebrew, stealing and other criminal activities,” Maniat said.
He said areas with no such competitions saw youths resorting to crime.
Maniat said sports were an avenue that could be used to address law-and-order problems.
“I am trying to do this in my council ward to keep my youths away from trouble and let my people live in peace and harmony,” he said.
Maniat said the grand finals would be played on Dec 26 followed by the presentation of prizes.
Volleyball competition president Cleapas Talingapua commended Maniat for backing sports to keep youths occupied during the festive period.
Talingapua said the competition was helping to expose and develop talent in the area.
“We have many good volleyball players who come to showcase their skills in the competition,” he said.
“They have the potential to represent the province in big tournaments like the Papua New Guinea Games.”
Talingapua said the support from the community was pleasing, adding that youths were turning up in big numbers to support their teams and watch matches over the weekend.