Team Bougainville’s enthusiasm leads way

Normal, Sports
Source:

The National, Thursday 20th September, 2012

By ELIZABETH VUVU
DESPITE a lack of funding in the past eight months, the enthusiasm shown by Team Bougainville for the PNG Grassroots games is palpable.
It is what has driven the team management not to give up and prepare hard for the games in November.
Team Bougainville, sports co-ordinator Robert Semoso said yesterday, finance had been the major drawback in the past months but the enthusiasm shown by athletes has kept them going.
The team has confirmed their participation in the games and secured accommodation in East New Britain. They would be staying at the PNG institute of administration’s regional training centre, at Vunadidir.
He said a total of 530 members including team officials will be in ENB and would be taking part in 18 sporting codes which include athletics, boxing, kick-boxing, taekwondo, karate, para-sportns, darts, bodybuilding, weightlifting, power lifting, rugby league 9s and rugby union 7s, touch football, soccer, softball, basketball, volleyball, netball and golf.
He said even though they do not play golf in Bougainville, they would be fielding a team to take part in the code which has also attracted 12 provinces.
Semoso said training preparations commenced four months ago and would continue into the last phase before the team departs for ENB.
He acknowledged assistance from the Autonomous Bougainville Government of K500, 000 and Bougainville Copper Limited K330, 000 so far.
“The team is confident and so far from our attendance to the three PNG Games, we have learnt our lessons and working hard to cover those loopholes and we look forward to playing well in all codes.”