Limbai sees more talent

By ROBINSON LEKA
EAST Sepik Athletics is confident of producing more representative athletes at the national and international levels with their schools programme hailed as success since its 2011 inception.
East Sepik Athletics coordinator and coach Malcolm Limbai told The National that the introduction of the inter-house carnival among schools had paved the way for a new group of youngsters who were now hot on the heels of Port Moresby and Lae athletes.
“The programme was key in identifying some of our recent talents where we have students picked to represent the province at the national level,” he said.
“There are a lot of promising East Sepik talents who are yet to be identified.
“We need to make sure that we identify and develop our best upcoming athletes.
“The passion and commitment from the athletes are there and we’ve seen it in Isila Apkup, who was taken from the village and is now studying and training in the United States.
“We have Emmanuel Anis who is another upcoming athlete.
“But we can produce more.
“Athletics in the province started in 2011 through coach Otto Wafia and when Otto left for studies abroad in 2014, I took over the responsibility in East Sepik.
“Otto was based in Bulolo, Morobe, before coming to teach in East Sepik where we both wanted to re-introduce the athletics programme in the province.
“Brandi Secondary School has been taking the lead in hosting and training our athletes through the athletics carnivals which is where our top athletes are identified. The carnivals are the highlight of East Sepik athletics.
“The school and the coaches have done well in implementing athletics programme.”