Miner does bit for football

FORTY-TWO officials from 11 communities throughout the Wafi-Golpu Project’s footprint area are now able to organise, manage and run football tournaments.
The participants underwent a four-day intensive referee training from September 4-7, held at the National Agriculture Research Institute outside Lae, Morobe.
Facilitated by the Morobe provincial government’s division of sports and culture, with support from the Lae Football Association (LFA), participants were taken through Fifa’s 17 fundamental laws of football.
Ludwick Peka, from the Sports and Culture office, said the people who will make sure that the games are played are the technical officials and when they run onto the field everybody knows that the game is on.
“Technical knowledge that you will apply on the field depends on what you’ve learned in this workshop,” Peka said.
“You will convince people and move them to their feet when you display your experience.
“You will make people appreciate your performance because it’s fair and professional.
“You will bring many people to the game because they trust you.”
Peka thanked WGJV for taking the lead in upskilling locals who could go on to be full-time referees.
He also thanked LFA for releasing two of their senior technical officers as instructors.
Babuaf community sports chairman and participant Syria Ete said as football players and people who watched the game, they thought that they knew the rules but after attending the training they could now run tournaments in their communities.
“This is the first time that WGJV has supported a referee training,” Ete said.
“It’s important to know the 17 laws of the game. If you know the rules, then the games will run smoothly,” he said.
WGJV gender and community training coordinator Grace Samuel, said her company was happy to support the programme.
“One problem is refereeing, which can sometimes create disharmony among supporters. So, it’s important that our people learn the rules of the game,” Samuel said.
“Your participation in this training shows that there is a need,” she said.
The 42 technical officials will go back to their respective communities and organise games as part of their community’s Independence celebrations. WGJV will support them throughout the week.
The Independence games will be called the Kumul bilong Morobe tournament and will be hosted at 11 venues in the Bulolo electorate with more than 270 teams and 3000 people confirmed to take part.