PNG AFL star in Madang for holidays

By HENRY MORABANG

WITH most sporting activities on recess for the festive period it is no different for AFL’s Carlton forward Peter Yama Labi who is back in PNG to spend Christmas and New Year at one of Madang province’s landmarks, the Smugglers Inn.

Young Labi, who is named after famous businessman and former firebrand Madang politician Peter Yama, is the son of Momase region Assistant Commissioner of Police Giossi Labi.

He returned to the country to spend some time with his family unlike some of his Carlton teammates.

Yama and Labi had something in common – they were policemen and best of mates after passing out of Bomana Police College some years back.

The young Labi had a short but colourful sporting career after taking up rules football four years ago.

After moving to Queensland to develop his game with Nambour last year, the 17-year-old Morobean went on to have a great season for Mt Gravatt in the main AFL Queensland league, and also played five games as a “top-up” player for the Brisbane Lions reserves. 

Standing at 189cm and weighing 84kg, Labi was member of PNG Mosquitoes that claimed the International Cup at the MCG in 2008 and, in the following year, had been playing with Mt Gravatt after three years of football in PNG. 

He played 13 games for Mt Gravatt, including three finals and playing on the losing side in their grand final loss to Morningside. 

He is one of the talents allocated to AFL feeder clubs in Australia. The others include Brendan Beno (Bundaberg-Wide Bay), Garry Kele (Darling Downs), Junior Caleb Kapa (Townsville), Labi (Mackay), Jolam Tonga (Crusaders), Robert Daniel (Capricornia) and Kenneth Buka (Cairns).