PNG wins Oceania title

THE Sevara family from Port Moresby had three sons playing Australian Rules Football (AFL) at the AFL Under-16 Oceania Cup in Fiji with the trio helping the Binatangs beat Nauru Stars 40-27 on Friday.
Brothers Martin and Patrick are proud fathers who believe their children can go a long way in the code as their son’s represented the PNG Binatangs in Suva last week.
Martin’s son Bernard and Patrick’s sons David and Allan have been doing well for the Binatangs.
Martin said they were proud of their sons’ achievements especially because they had just started playing the sport.
“For me as a parent, I’m so proud of the effort they have put in with their training and games this season,” he said.
“They only started playing AFL last year playing for Saint Peter’s Catholic Primary School in the AFL Niu Kick Academy programme, and also Gordon Kokofa A reserve side in the Port Moresby AFL competition, and have already tasted grand finals in both competitions.”
Martin said they were a part of the Gordon Kokofas U16 academy side which won the grand final this year and coming out second best in the year’s Pom AFL A reserve grand final with the Kokofas.
“The main advice I give to them is to stay focused on what goals they want to achieve as athletes; and also be disciplined in education and also in life,”he said.
The Kokofas club, which gave rise to PNG AFL star and Gold Coast Suns player Hewago ‘Ace’ Oea, is the inspiration around and behind the Sevara boys as they all live in the same neighborhood as Ace.
Oea was around the same age as the Sevara brothers when he was drafted into the Suns more than a decade ago.
The PNG Binatangs came through undefeated in their pool to win the grand final yesterday.
While the PNG Kurakums defeated Fiji 33-0 to take out third place in the girls division.
It is the first Australian rules football Oceania Cup tournament since 2019 and features a female division. Teams from Australia, New Zealand, Tonga and Fiji took part in the event. – RNZ