Softball oozes confidence

 By HENRY MORABANG

THE Papua New Guinea Softball Federation is confident the national sides will win gold at the Pacific Games in July.

President Chris Bais made the comments when assessing last week’s national camp at PNG Institute of Public Administration Oval in Port Moresby.

He said he was impressed with reports from visiting father and son coaches, Ken and Jerrymah Selu, from Canberra, Australia.

The Selus spent the week bringing the players and national coaching staff up to date with the games’ latest training methods and skills development.

Bais said the camp gave the team management the opportunity to gauge the players’ level of preparedness.

Apart from intensive batting, infield and outfield training, Ken Selu was impressed with the players’ attitude.

He said the player’s willingness to learn and improve their Games was a good trait that they would not be complacent heading into the July 4-18 event.

Bais described the Selu’s contribution as timely and a valuable addition to the preparation softball was putting its players through. 

He said the coaches, management and the federation would go through the final team of 17 players and five non-travelling reserves for the men and the women’s teams.

He said the federation was aiming to have their squads named and in training before February 28 when all sports are to submit their team information to the PNG Olympic Committee’s Justification Committee.

PNG won the gold medal in the men and women’s division in Apia, Samoa, in 2007, and are favourites at home.

Bais said Northern Marianas, the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau would be the hardest opponents in the men’s competition while Guam, Northern Marianas and FMS were the contenders in the women’s competition.