PNG athletes graduate

TEAM Papua New Guinea athletes Theo Piniau and Poro Gahekave both graduated from their respective universities in Texas, United States (US), on Saturday.
Proud parents Graham and Alice Piniau flew to the US for the big occasion at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, the same institution from which Rellie Kaputin graduated last year.
Athletics PNG president Tony Green and athlete Annie Topal witnessed Gahekave’s graduation at Lubbock Christian University and the trio then visited the Piniau family in the afternoon.
Green congratulated both athletes and thanked Piniau’s parents for their support which had enabled the 26-year-old to complete his degree after he took a break from 2017-2018 to focus on athletics.
Green also thanked the Oceania Foundation for giving Piniau the opportunity to study in the US with a two-year scholarship from 2013.
Gahekave started a year later, in august 2014 with support for one year from the Go for Gold Programme leading up to the 2015 Pacific Games and resumed her college studies in 2016 under a private arrangement before securing a scholarship to Lubbock Christian University.
Green said that APNG had established a good relationship with West Texas A&M University where head coach Matt Stewart had been supportive of PNG athletes.
He was also impressed with the set up at Lubbock Christian where student support was amazing.
“It’s clear that the tutors and administrative staff genuinely care about their students and the atmosphere there is highly conducive to success for athletes,” Green said.
Green appealed for support to enable more athletes to embark on such programmes, which produce Pacific Games gold medallists and university graduates at the same time. “Not only that but the experience of living overseas is an education in itself,” he said.
“We have several school leavers who can (for a modest cost to PNG) excel if given the opportunity to do so.
“If we sow the seeds now, we will reap the rewards (at Solomon Islands Pacific Games) in 2023.”