PNG touch football skipper Eka eyeing code’s major events

By ISAAC LIRI
GETTING in shape before the 2019 Pacific Games and the Touch Football World Cup in Malaysia is the focus for the current PNG men’s touch captain Eugene Eka.
The 27-year old from Gulf who led the PNG men’s side to the gold medal in the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby and bronze in the Touch World Cup in Melbourne has been busy lately with his individual preparations for both upcoming international events.
“I have been training with High Performance Sport PNG but then I went to help my club in the Port Moresby Corporate Touch Finals but now that’s over I will return to continue my training with HPS,” Eka said.
As an employee of the International Revenue Commission in Port Moresby, the talented athlete is currently balancing his work and training at the same time, a routine not new to him.
“Its’ always hard balancing work and training but it’s nothing new, there is always time for everything, time for work and time for training.
Eka is not the only touch football athlete undergoing preparations the upcoming events, his colleagues in the sporting code were also doing their part with High Performance and will be doing more sessions next month.
While Eka and the rest of the touch athletes gear up, the finalised national squad is yet to be announced by Touch Football PNG.
If he makes the team, it will be Eka’s second time to wear the national colours something all elite athletes aim for.
“Wearing the PNG colours is one of the greatest feelings ever. It’s a feeling that you cannot describe.”
“For the World Cup I want our team to defend the bronze medal of go one step further and for the Pacific Games we have to defend our gold medal.