Talent academy providing opportunities, says official

The National Sports

By JAMIE HARO
AFL PAPUA New Guinea continues to give opportunities to youths in the community through its national talent pathway programme, says national talent academy manager Prudence Sindriwen.
This follows the invitation of 10 PNG AFL talent academy members to Gold Coast, Australia who combined with a South Pacific team that competed against the Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions over the weekend.
“The boys attended the Youth Pacific Academy camp in Gold Coast, Australia to showcase their raw talent skills among talents from five other pacific islands countries,” Sindriwen said.
“Prior to that the girls had their program March 6-11 before the boys.
“They took part in the academy camp where all five Pacific island counties came together to form the South Pacific team and played against the Brisbane Lions academy and Gold Coast Suns academy teams.”
Meanwhile, the AFL South Pacific academy team showed an impressive side scoring 7-9-51 to defeat the Suns Academy 5-9-39 on Friday and on Saturday scoring 10-10-70 to defeat Lions Academy 6-1-37. “We try to give opportunity to youth and hope they will get selected by the teams in Australia to further their playing carrier with our support,” she said.
“Thank you to our amazing people across our Pacific programmes for all the work they do with our aspiring young men and women. Incredibly proud day for everyone. We try to give opportunity to youth and hope they will get selected by the teams in Australia to further their playing carrier with our support.”
PNG AFL academy members (boys): POM: Allan Sevara, David Sevara, Bernard Sevara, Nicklyde Soilo, Jerad Dau, Rocky Rex, Japeth Felix; Lae: Menson Gubana, Ellison Tona, David Leo (Mt Hagen) officials; Alphonse Jambarufo (manager), Emmanuel Tupia (coach)
(Girls): Elvina Vanua, Christina Baeua, Marjorine Opina, Bridgette Talania (POM) Winifred Vagelo (Kimbe), Immaculate Tei (Mt Hagen), Oriana Wariningi (Lae): Officials: Prudence Sindriwen (manager), Valerie Mai (coach), Balthazar Sovara (umpire) and Brian Bavo (physiotherapist).