Primary schools in Lae learn sports skills

By RIGGO NANGAN
PRIMARY school children in Lae, Morobe, were given the opportunity to learn early in life the basic sports coaching and management skills to prepare them to be good sports administrators and technical officers in future.
The initiative organised by the PNG Sports Foundation in Lae, is for all primary schools within the city limits.
However, two schools – Amba Demonstration Primary School at Ampo and Huonville Primary – at Seventh Street sent 26 and four students respectively.
One of the organisers, Philip Lavatu said they were expecting students from all primary schools in Lae but due to the long Easter weekend, most schools did not respond to their invitations.
The students were learning basic coaching, management and organising skills in modified Pikinini sports in the codes of soccer, volleyball, netball, touch football and pukpuk rugby over three days.
The students also learnt good habits in sports and HIV/AIDS.
Lavatu was with other coaching tutors from the provincial sports office which included Aaron Mugaliong and John Tarapia.
Lavatu was optimistic that more students would attend the training sessions during the next school break.
PNGSF Momase regional manager Vincent Onnevagi, whose organisation manages the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium where the sessions were held, said such sessions were good for school-aged children to learn and help the new generation bring sports to the next level.
He said this would have a meaningful reflection on the theme of PNGSF, “Raising Our Game”.