Official wants more to be done for rugby league coaches

By ROBINSON LEKA
FROM humble beginnings as a local produce vendor all the way to head coach of the Highlands Zone women’s rugby league side is the promising start to the coaching career of John Kera.
Kera, 41, from Sinasina in Chimbu, was always an avid follower of the game, however, he never really took up a serious role in rugby league as his primary source of income came from selling local produce with his wife at Chuave market to help support them with their five children.
John, who resides in Goroka and travels to and from Chuave with his wife to sell their produce, decided to pursue an interest in coaching rugby league in 2016 after he was asked to be in charge of the CPL Norths Women’s side in the Goroka Rugby League competition.
“Norths owner Junior Ropra came around and asked if I wanted to coach the women’s side and that’s how it started,” Kera said.
“It was a big ask for me because I didn’t really know what to expect but I thought this would be a good time to try out coaching.”
His maiden year at the coach’s post proved successful with Norths claiming their first title in the Goroka league and they defended the title the following year with Kera at the helm.
He said the back-to-back title wins was something he was very proud of as a coach and a mentor to his players.
The Norths would later go on to make a third consecutive appearance in the 2018 season women’s grand-final, however, their luck would run out with after losing 18-10 to the Royals.
The 2018 season in Goroka brought its rewards for Kera as he was later called up to coach the women’s train-on side for the Eastern Highlands team in the Highlands Zone Championship.
“Goroka was fortunately chosen to hold the championships in the Highlands Zone and that was a very exciting tournament because I got to see the wider talent from the region,” he said.
“You also get to really see both our strengths and weaknesses in the region.”
The final of the women’s division saw Eastern Highlands come out on top with lone field goal from Elaine Aaron to see them defeat Enga 1-0.
Kera’s successful campaign at the regional championship in Goroka saw him advance to the national championships but this time, he was asked to take charge of the Highlands Zone women’s team travelling to Port Moresby.
“The 2018 National Championships was a personal high for me,” he said.
“I knew that this was something big for our team and I wanted to make sure we made the most of it.
“We had a really tough time at the championships after going up against teams from Northern and Southern.
“Our ladies managed to get one win under their belt against the New Guinea Islands side.
“Our side finished third overall that year, but after that I felt a sense of pride in what we accomplished because apart from the game, we gave our ladies an avenue to play and that’s something still new in the country.
“It was really nice to meet my fellow countrymen from our different regions come together with their women’s teams.
“I can truly say that our women’s game has risen and we need more trained and skilled people to come in to help bring our women’s rugby league to the next level.”
Kera later that year got his level one coaching certificate from PNG Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) and is now on his next goal of upgrading his skills as a rugby league coach.
“There’s a lot of good hardworking men and women out there that have given their time and resources to the game.
“I only hope that more can be done to make sure they’re trained and certified.
“I’m only certified at the junior level but I think others like me who wish to get further in coaching should push for opportunities to get certified,” Kera said.
He has recently returned to Chimbu where he is hoping to attend another clinic held by the PNGRFL hosted by Mount Wilhelm League.