PNG rep proud to be role model

NORMALISA Dobunaba grew up surrounded by her basketball family that dates back to her grandparents playing in the national championships.
The 21-year-old said she watched her parents and grandparents compete in basketball tournaments all over Papua New Guinea.
“My family loves basketball, I grew up watching my parents and grandparents play,” she said.
“I have four brothers and we all played basketball growing up and watching the game. When we were young, we played basketball every weekend.”
Dobunaba represented PNG at the 2016 Fiba Under-18 Oceania Championships in Fiji, the 2017 Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu, and lined up for the country at last year’s Pacific Games in Samoa.
“It’s overwhelming when you put on the PNG jersey and you represent your people,” she said.
“It’s not about the name on your back anymore but the one in front. It was a tremendous honour and I felt privileged to represent my country.”
Unfortunately, she experienced a painful loss early last year when her mum passed away.
“It was hard for me because my mum has always been my main supporter and she dreamed of me playing in the Pacific Games,” Dobunaba said.
“I almost did not want to play because it was tough but I went out there and played my heart out because I know that’s what she wanted me to do, and I wanted to make her and my family proud.”
Aside from being a player, Dobunaba is also a volunteer for the Basketball Federation of PNG’s (BFPNG) Basketball For Good programmes.
“I started volunteering in 2016 when Joel Khalu was the chief executive of BFPNG. He invited all players to volunteer for the programmes and I never looked back after my first experience,” she said.
Dobunaba, who also represented PNG in a Pacific youth leaders basketball camp in 2016, said her stint as a volunteer coach had driven her passion to be a role model for girls in the country.
“Ever since I started volunteering for the programmes, I always noticed that it was male-dominant in terms of participants and coaches. One day, I got home, reflected and questioned why that was the case and I came to the conclusion that the key was to have self-confidence,” she said.
“When I started, I also doubted myself and felt out of place but I’ve learned to build confidence.”
Dobunaba is grateful for the opportunities she’s been given and hopes to continue volunteering in the programmes as long as she is available.
“I believe if we can empower girls to find a place where they are comfortable, it will build their confidence and that is one of BFPNG’s goals,” she said.
“Hopefully, that will push them to step out of their comfort zones and get involved as leaders in their communities.” – Fiba Oceania