Vice minister honours K20,000 pledge to code

 VICE Minister for Sports and Moresby North-East MP Labi Amaiu has honoured his financial commitment by presenting K20,000 to the Port Moresby Softball League last weekend.

Amaiu (pictured) made the commitment in April to help the cost of sending a team and the general administration of softball in preparation for the upcoming season and for the 2015 Pacific Games.

He urged the executives to work with the national body as the single largest softball association in the country to develop the game at the grassroots, youth and schools levels.

Amaiu said he was a firm believer in the concept of development and unity through the platform of sports and would provide support where possible to all sporting codes. 

He said most sporting codes were located in Bisini Parade, in the  middle of his Moresby North-East electorate, and he had an obligation to fulfil in their development. 

He has been supporting other sports in his electorate, including rugby league, volleyball and soccer.

Amaiu commended the softball hierarchy for being a sport that promoted family and a fun atmosphere at games, with a zero tolerance on the spectator and player violence usually seen in other sports. 

He said this should be an example to all other sporting codes and that any violence should be curbed and games played in the true spirit of sportsmanship. 

League officials pledged to work with him to develop the game at the local level and work with the national body to carry out development programmes. 

With Port Moresby teams expected to dominate the national softball teams for the 2015 Pacific Games, Amaiu’s backing was a huge boost for the competition.

The Port Moresby softball competition is in recess, with the competition expected to start in late September, after the National Club Championships in Kokopo.