Sport wants to be best
The National, Thursday February 12th, 2015
By HENRY MORABANG
SOFTBALL gold medal favourites Papua New Guinea aim to continue their regional dominance at the Pacific Games.
National men’s coach Joel Lumaris is wary of the challenge and expectation his charges face but knows the talent is there to win gold.
The hulking New Irelander was player/coach at the 1991 Games when PNG won gold and was part of the coaching staff at the 2007 Games in Apia, Samoa, where the gold medal challenge in the men’s and women’s was against American Samoa.
“It will be a mammoth task for me to defend the gold medal at home. Though, PNG is outright favourite, we are likely to face strong opposition from North Mariannas, Palau and Federated States of Micronesia, who have active competitions,” he said.
Lumaris has been an integral part of softball development in the country, firstly as coaching director, and secondly as national coach for the national teams taking part in international competition.
With the cream of softballers around him, Lumaris has the duty to refine their batting and fielding skills during a one-week intensive training camp in Port Moresby.
He os grateful to the Kenneth Selu and his son, Jerrymah for their time to elp prepare the national squads and was confident the skills and experience gained from the course would put the sides in good stead to continue PNG’s dominance in the region.
Kenneth, the senior Selu, who is part Koiari and Western Highlands, was raised in Morata before settling in Canberra, Australia.
His son has represented Australia at junior level and both are involved in the Canberra softball competition.
Kenneth, who coached the ACT Giants in the Australia Softball League, was a candidate to be the assistant coach of the Australian Under-19s but opted instead to help the PNG teams.
Jerrymah was a member of the Australian men’s U19 team that won the World Series in Canada recently. He is considered the best U19 pitcher in Australia and ranked number two in the world. “Basically the Selus are in the country to refine skills and tactics,” he said.