Sporting body calls for intervention on training venues

 THE Papua New Guinea Squash and Racket Federation (PNGSRF) has supported the call by bodybuilders for the government to immediately step in to assist athletes for minor sports prepare for 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby. 

While bodybuilders will surely miss the Taurama Leisure Centre, the spokesman for PNGSRF John Kambuou said his sport does not have a permanent home or venue for its athletes. 

“Squash is going through a frustrating episode with training venues after the former Port Moresby Tennis and Racket Club opposite Murray Barracks was demolished two years ago to make way for new development,” he said. 

The squash federation under president Edmond Pereira has submitted plans to Venues Equipment and Implementation Committee for a squash centre for 2015 Pacific Games but the response has been negative. 

Kambuou said the sport needed a home because other facilities in the city where expensive to hire.

 “The biggest problem for squash is lack of appropriate venues so we are hoping that 2015 Games will provide us the facilities,” he said.

Squash has school programmes with schools around the city.