Newcomer wants to give back to home province

Normal, Sports
Source:

The National, Wednesday June 18th, 2013

 By KYMLIE KARANI

ALL the way from the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB), Monier Pukpuks team member Hubert Tseraha says he will love to develop the sport in his province.

Tseraha, pictured, was recently named in the final 30-man squad for the Federation of Oceania rugby Union (FORU) Cup tournament in a fortnight following a trial match over the weekend at Monier Rugby Park.

“This is a special moment for me because my fellow countrymen just celebrated our AROB anniversary,” he said. 

“This is for all my people back home. Let’s use rugby as a tool to bring peace and  un­ity within our province,” the 23-year-old said. “With the knowledge I have, I want to develop rugby back at home some time. I want to give back.” 

Yesterday, The National caught up with the powerhouse fullback at the Ela Murray International School during the Monier Pukpuks school rugby clinic.

Tseraha is one of the two additions to the national side from Bougainville and said being the first guy from the region to represent the country was a huge privilege.

Tseraha, brought up and raised in Bougainville, said his dreams of representing his country one day had finally turned into reality.

Coming from the small village of Hangan where soccer was the most popular sport, Tseraha realised that he could use his speed in other sports.

“Since every boy in the village played soccer, I grew up playing the sport. But I am happy that I can get the chance to represent PNG.”

It was only in 2007 when rugby sevens was introduced there that Tseraha dropped soccer to make use of his speed.

“Since it was a new sport in the province, I wanted to try out my speed in sevens,” Tseraha recalled.

While doing his Year 12 at the Hutjena Secondary School in 2008, Tseraha started competing in provincial tournaments with the famous Black Orchids and played in the Kimbe 7s.

He went on to play at the national sevens championships that was held in Port Moresby in 2009.

He was called into the Pukpuks development squad that travelled recently to the Gold Coast for a high performance training camp.

“I am very happy. It is such a special moment and I thank the Lord for his blessings. I want to give it all back to my people at home in Bougainville,” he said.