NGCB backs Arafura three

By HENRY MORABANG
THE National Gaming Control Board yesterday presented K310,000 to three teams participating at the Arafura Games in Darwin, Australia, next week.
NGCB deputy chairman Graham Osbourne and his chief executive officer Simon Sanagke presented K150,000 and K130,000 to the PNG Sports Foundation and Team NCD respectively while K30,000 was committed to defending Arafura champions Vabukori Amateur Volleyball Association (VAVA).
The money will go directly towards players’ levy fees of K1,000.
Osborne said NGCB wanted to help all teams going to Arafura and would pay levy fees taking the pressure off athletes so they could concentrate on training.
He said the funds were sourced from NGCB’s Community Development Funds to support the three teams.
While handing over the cheques, Osborne urged the athletes to be good ambassadors for the country.
PNGSF CEO Iamo Launa thanked Osborne, who is also PNGSF Board chairman, for assisting in securing funds from NGCB.
The presentation of K150,000 was timely, Iamo said, as PNG was preparing for the 2015 Pacific Games.
She said they would use Arafura Games as a pathway to developing athletes for the higher level competition leading towards Pacific Games in Port Moresby.
Launa called on all provincial governments to support their provincial teams and support junior sports programmes in their respective provinces in preparation for the 2015 Games.
Deputy city manager (social services) Honk Kiap also thanked NGCB for supporting Team NCD.
He said Team NCD had a development squad as it believed in promoting grassroots sports at such higher level competition as the Arafura Games.
He hoped Team NCD and other teams would do the country proud in Darwin.