Source:
The National, Wednesday February 26th, 2014
By WENDY KATUSELE
A PROMISING softballer of mixed Papua New Guinea and Australian parentage hopes to one day represent this country.
Jerremyah James Selu, whose father Ken is of Banz, Western Highlands and Koiari, Central province parentage, and mum Michelle an Australian, has indicated his desire to represent PNG in softball. However, any chance of the young man being considered for next year’s Pacific Games looks to be slim because of the eligibility rules, stipulated under the sub clause that relates to residency rules.
Selu, 18, made the Australian Colts Under-19 side to the World Junior Softball Series in Canada in July, and the PNG Softball Federation is aware of his ability.
The Colts side is the junior squad of the national Australian Steelers team.
Selu is the current Australian Capital Territory U19 first choice pitcher and ironically his mentor and coach is world number one and Australian pitcher Andrew Kirkpatrick.
Father Ken is the assistant coach.
Young Selu and Kirkpatrick are team mates in the Australian Capital territory’s open men’s 89ers team, the current Australian national champions.
Selu debut in the ACT senior team this year before breaking into the U19 Colts national side.
He joins four other members of his local club Woden Giants for the World Series when they fly to Vancouver, Canada on June 26 for a two-week training camp. They then proceed to White Horse for the July 11-20 series.
“He is very much pumped to be playing beside world number pitcher Andrew Kirkpatrick his mentor and Adam Folkhart,” dad Ken said.
Affectionately known as Jay, he now plays alongside Kirkpatrick, Jeff Goolagong, Evan Brynes and Zenon Winters – current Australian Steelers players.
Selu picked up a bat in 2000 at Kindergarten at Holy Trinity Primary Curtin Canberra and displayed good hitting skills, smashing the ball off the tee. Since then he has gone on to represent his club and state at various junior championships.
Sister Kalani is a third basewoman, the mum’s a dedicated administrator while father Ken is a coach.
Father Ken told The National that arrangements were being made to sought dual citizenship for the whole family and that could open the door for Jay to play for PNG.
However it will not be for next year’s Pacific Games as the residency rules would disqualify him, according to the amended Pacific Games Charter.
“With respect to an athlete’s eligibility, the new charter requires team members to meet the following citizenship and residency conditions for inclusion in a team selected by a Pacific Games Association:
- be a citizen of the country/territory the athlete is to represent at the Games and be able to demonstrate residency in that country/territory;
- for the purposes of this clause: “citizen” means the holder of a current valid and applicable passport of the country/territory the athlete represents; and “residency” means that the athlete shall be a citizen of the country/territory the athlete represents and have resided for not less than five years (cumulatively, whether consecutively or not) at any time in that country/territory of the PGA.”