Taikone makes come back in volleyball after three years

FORMER powerhouse, Taikone are making a comeback to favourite volleyball game.
After three years in the doldrums, Taikone Amateur Volleyball Association (TAVA), headed by interim chairman Geoffrey Mala want to revive what he likes doing best, playing volleyball.
Mala has a good team of Lopia Laima and former representative players in Koite brothers Billy and Joe, Abe Hua and  Simon Tua, who wanted to see the young villages continue the tradition of playing the game.
TAVA was once power house and three-time PNG champions before their neighbouring Vabukori village took over the reign in the game.
“We have watched quietly in the last three years and thought, it is time to give something to the youths in the village so we decided to start the volleyball courts,” he said.
Mala said he gave credit to Lopia Laima who injected some financial support to get the competition off the ground.
Mala added there had been much rivalry between TAVA and Vabukori in the past.
With the return of TAVA into the PNG Volleyball Association, there will certainly be no love lost between the two neighbouring villages in Moresby South electorate.
A former PNG representative player, himself, Mala said his aim was to get as many boys into the South Pacific Games in 2015 as they would be playing in the proposed volleyball stadium at Vabukori village.
Currently, there are six teams taking part in the pre-season competition which include champions Warriors, Bulls, Badmix, Spartenz, Kolo One and Prados.
Each club must register a men and a women’s team.
Mala urged the community of Taikone to abstain from illegal activities to support the initiative he has taken to ensure peace and harmony among the youths.
Laima said he moved into Taikone in 2003 and had switched from rugby league to volleyball.
He has led the TAVA teams in many national championships; the latest was in 2006 in Madang.
He strongly believes that TAVA could return to his former glory if all the players and the community support the initiative to revive the game.