Mother calls for backing of women’s sports

MOTHERS and young girls from Bukapena village in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands, want men in communities and elected leaders such as councillors to support women’s sports.
Anita Jacob, a mother of two who captains a team in the Bukapena women’s volleyball competition being run this Christmas, told The National that games hosted in the village this time was important to bring families together.
However, she said mothers and young women are usually not allowed to participate by their husbands and family members.
Benny Paia, a villager who owns a trade store in the Bukapena community and rents a small fast food outlet in Mt Hagen, has sponsored the women’s competition involving 14 teams with the competition to end on Christmas Day.
“We want like minded individuals like Paia to support and promote gender equality,” Jacob said.
“We cannot always be left to do household chores.
“During Christmas, there are sporting competitions hosted everywhere in the villages and women must be given priority to participate.”
Paia said the competition involved teams from 10 wards in the local level government with the aim of giving women a chance to enjoy sports during Christmas.
He said many women who played sport in their youth had stopped once they got married because of their responsibilities at home or because their husbands did not allow them.