Tonton thriving at the deep end

 By ROBSON AKIS

HE may not have gone through the junior development pathway programme nor attended the AFL Academy at De La Salle, Bomana, to be in the mix for the rising star tag.

But 17-year-old Wallace ‘Tonton’ Kuvi of Lamana Dockers is proving himself one of the most exciting AFL prospects in a Port Moresby AFL competition filled with young stars.

It certainly is exciting as Wallace has never played senior football in the past, nor any lead-up matches into the elite competition.

It only took him seven rounds this year to earn a “rising star” nomination (from this reporter) after a stunning performance in the Dockers 58-point victory over Kwila Gulf Giants last week.

Scouting around in the midfield and resting in the left forward pocket, Wallace gathered 8 marks, 10 kicks and five handballs and capped off the day with a goal.

So far to date, the Don Bosco Technical School (DBTS) student has booted six goals to his credit and wants to be a dominant goal-kicker as he gets more games under his belt.

“It’s a big dream but I am happy that I’m learning from senior players like Sebby Gelu, Stanis Isu, Sylvester Mangaea and Desmond Kaumu,” the grade 11 student said. 

Wallace wants to emulate Adam Goodes of Sydney Swans as his great model and the image of Goodes often gets him fired up before games.

Wallace also wants to make it into the Mosquitos (PNG National AFL Team) in the near future.

His father, Francis Kuvi, who starred for Boroko in the late 1970s and early 1980s under the coaching genius of former BSP chief executive officer Ian Clyne, believes that Wallace has AFL in his blood and is in good stead to live his dream.