Team PNG needs more support

By HENRY MORABANG
TEAM PNG is calling for more financial support to maintain their status as number one in the region.
Chef de mission for 2017 Pacific Mini Games Emma Waiwai said from Port Vila, Vanuatu, yesterday that she was happy and satisfied with the overall performance of Team PNG in the two-week Pacific Mini Games.
“We came here in Vanuatu without knowing what was in store for Team PNG. There were a lot of expectation carried on from the 2015 Pacific Games at home in PNG but the team did their best,” she said.
However, she said if Team PNG was to remain top in the region, it needed more financial support from the national government and the stakeholders of the four-yearly event.
“I will not stop saying it that Team PNG need more support for the team to remain number one in Pacific,” she said.
Waiwai, who led Team PNG to Rio Olympics and now to Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu, has been given the vote to take charge of the team again for the 2019 Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa.
She said Team PNG has a big challenge ahead looking forwards to the Apia Games in two years’ time.
“We have 18 months to prepare and we need the support to remain competitive and stay number one in the region,” he said.
There were a notable high and low from the Vanuatu Games.
The biggest disappointment was Toes Wisil losing her 200m title to her training partner from Cook Islands, Patricia Taea.
“Both were training partners in Australia and the 200m race proved very critical for both runners.”
Wisil did not perform to her expectation due to family issues at home but she in sports, she did not want to drag that in, Waiwai said.
Waiwai said as a true sportswoman, Wisil congratulated Taea and vowed to give her best shot in Apia in 2019 when they both meet. “I know Wisil is an experienced runner and will pick up where she left in Vanuatu to prepare better for 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa,” she said.
The gold-medal winning performance by beach volleyballers Richard Kila-Rupa and Moha Mea was outstanding.
Despite losing their Commonwealth Games qualification to Fiji, they bounced back to defend their gold medal win against Samoa in the finals.
Waiwai thanked the national government through National Gaming Control Board , Kumul Petroleum Holdings Ltd and other sponsors who made it possible for the team to attend the Mini Games.
She commended Sports Vice Minister Wesley Raminai for always being there and supporting Team PNG.
He was at the opening and the closing of the Pacific Mini Games to show the government’s support to Team PNG.
The team is expected to return on Wednesday.
Other members of Team PNG returned home on Friday while athletes based in the United States and Australia moved back to their respective training bases on Saturday and yesterday.