School cricket launched

CRICKET Papua New Guinea and Bank South Pacific officially launched their award-winning junior cricket development programme, the 2018 BSP School Kriket Programme at Wardstrip Primary School in Port Moresby today.
BSP relationship manager paramount Bertha Auwi, CPNG director of cricket Gayan Loku, CPNG game development/training manager Vaianna Gabba as well as the nine CPNG regional cricket managers were all present at the launch.
The bank gave K415,000 for the programme.
“Today marks another successful year of the popular BSP School Kriket Programme in PNG,” Gabba said. The BSP School Kriket Programme was first launched in 2009 at Wardstrip Primary School and has grown to be the biggest junior sports programme in PNG and the East-Asia-Pacific (EAP) region.
The programme was designed to breed future Hebou PNG Barramundis (men) and City Pharmacy PNG Lewas (women) and at the same time teaching children the values of team work, respect, leadership, motor skills, dedication, communication and exercise which are all some very important life skills.
“Over the years, the programme has grown in PNG. There are now 10 centres with over 200 schools involved with a participation of over 188,000 girls and boys playing cricket from as early as 3 to 4 years and up to 15 years.
“We ensure that children both boys and girls participate in the School Kriket programme at a young age by making the sport of cricket accessible to all,” Gabba said.
The School Kriket programme has won numerous ICC Global Development Awards in recent years including best overall development programme and best junior participation initiative.
Last year, the programme reached 187,952 participants across 261 schools and 145 clinics in provinces.
The programme has produced current Barramundis Nosiana Pokana, Hiri Hiri, Kipling Doriga, Dogodo Bau and Damien Ravu as well as Lewas Brenda Tau and Vicky A’ra.
Also, for the first time, the PNG Garamuts that competed at the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup EAP qualifier in Samoa all came through the programme.
“The programme wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our good partner Bank South Pacific. We are thankful for their continuous support,” Gabba said.
The BSP School Kriket programme aims to reach more than 150,000 participants across PNG for the sixth consecutive year since 2013.