Mother defying all odds

DESPITE the challenges stacked against her, Papua New Guinea’s Lewa Hani defied all odds to fulfil her dream of representing the country in the Pacific Games.
The mother-of-two was able to represent PNG and made her debut at last year’s Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa, as a 41-year-old.
“Age is just a number and it should not define what you want to achieve in life; whether it’s in school, sports, or being an entrepreneur,” said Hani, who celebrated her 41st birthday during last year’s Pacific Games.
“You can achieve anything when you put your mind to it and work hard to achieve it.”
The PNG native proved the adage true.
Aside from her duties as a mother and wife, Hani is working full-time as a finance officer for the PNG Teachers Association Welfare Fund.
“Juggling a full-time job, coaching youths in basketball and keeping up with my children is a challenge,” she said.
“And then adding the daily squad training seemed like a recipe for burn-out.
“I didn’t know what I was getting myself into but all I could think of was my ‘why’ and keeping my mind fixed on making the final selection.”
Hani reflects fondly on her mission to make the final cut for the Pacific Games squad last year and wears her selection as a badge of honour.
“Blood, sweat and tears is an understatement,” she said.
“I was training alongside girls half my age and being the oldest in the train-on-squad gave me a sense of defeat and doubt at times.
“I went to sleep thinking of quitting and not returning, yet I’d wake up the next day and do it all over again.”
Hani credited her support crew that included her husband taking care of their children and school matters, her aunt who helped her recover and rest after the daily training, and support from her employer which pushed her to realise her dream.
“It was a chapter in my life where I gave every ounce of energy and love that I got for the game to achieve my dream,” she said.
“But my passion for basketball does not stop with representing my country.
“I want to be a role model and help girls have the same feeling I had.”
Hani, a coach for the Chariots, an affiliated member of the Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea (BFPNG), is also active in Basketball for Good programmes in Port Moresby.
“I try to volunteer in BFPNG’s Basketball for Good programmes, the ultimate dream is to provide a platform that can help girls who love the sport reach their dreams as I did,” she said.
“I get to interact with girls who have passion for the game and it inspires me to see them enjoy basketball.
“Basketball for Good has helped the country by doing their bit in keeping kids and youths off the streets through Pikinini Hoops and Twilight programmes.
“Also, the participants of Hoops for Health and Mums a Hero programmes have a positive outlook on life.”
After realising her dream of playing in the Pacific Games, Hani said she wanted to be a future national team coach and help create a basketball academy in Port Moresby.
“I hope to be a national coach one day and the other for PNG to have a basketball academy,” she said.
“The latter is a long shot but I believe that working together with like-minded people, it is possible.
“It would be fulfilling to have young people not just excel in basketball but academically as well with the consideration for life after basketball.”
The 42-year-old is barely scratching the surface on her next goals but with her fortitude, perseverance, and discipline, the next generation of women basketballers in PNG is in good hands. – Fiba Oceania