Karate teams seek funds for PNG Games

By FRANKLIN KOLMA
BOUGAINVILLE and Central Karate will all be going forward with fundraising and preparations for the PNG Games in Kokopo, East New Britain.
Bougainville Karate Sensei David Wallace said: “We are not going to end up in the same boat as our kickboxing brothers who did not go for the World Championships because of a lack of funding.
“We will are starting to solicit funding as well as other activities.
Wallace said he planned to send more than 10 fighters to the games but could not do that without proper funding.
“As funding will not be handed to us on a plate, we will go ahead with fundraising activities,” he said.
Wallace appealed to the government of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB) and companies in his province for assistance.
“Seeing that we will be carrying the Autonomous Region name, it would be great if we got some help from our government as well as business houses in Buka,” he said.
He said although Bougainville Karate won gold for the region at the recent national karate titles in Port Moresby last week they had not received any funding from the Bougainville government.
Central Karate vice-president, Joseph Baeu stressed the need to raise funds early and not wait for 11th hour donations from the community.
Meanwhile, National champions, Central Karate plan to send the largest contingent to the PNG Games which will take place in November.
Baeu said individuals or companies interested in helping or joining the Bougainville and Central karate teams should contact Joseph Baeu on 7240 0520 and David Wallace on 7346 2787.