Programme launched

PAPUA New Guinea successfully launched its inaugural mini basketball jamboree for Under-12 players to further develop its grassroots programme for the sport.
Organised by the Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea (BFPNG) in partnership with PNG Olympians Association, Fiba and the Fiba Foundation, the jamboree attracted more than 100 participants at the National Sports Institute (NSI) in Goroka, Eastern Highlands.
Twenty mentors along with several support staff and administrators guided the youths bidding to start their basketball dreams on the right foot at the NSI — a friendly and conducive environment that displayed second-to-none hospitality to all the delegates.
The Olympic Values Education Programme was a great Basketball for Good inclusion during the jamboree.
Olympian Iammo Launa alongside Team PNG Hero athletes Lewa Hani, Jordan Sere and Poro Gahekave shared the Olympic values of excellence, respect and friendship with the coaches and children at the first jamboree in the country.
Launa motivated the young participants to never stop chasing their dreams.
PNG basketball legends Fred Lavaki and Mirisa Eka were also in attendance, serving as mentors to the young players.
For BFPNG executive officer Nick Daroa, this adds fuel to the burning desire of local grassroots talents to fully unleash their potential and become lifelong fans of basketball, enlarging the Fiba family.
“We had a memorable and phenomenal three days of basketball that will last a lifetime in the hearts of young Easterners,” said Daroa, who also thanked Department of Health’s Michael Nuri for the protocols in place to assure everyone’s safety amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
BFPNG is bound for more initiatives like theseto keep its rise in the international scene with several programmes in place to improve all levels of the game in the country. – Fiba