Volleyball team dedicate campaign to late skipper

THE Papua New Guinea men’s volleyball team have dedicated their Pacific Games campaign to their team captain who passed away last Tuesday, as the team were making final preparations to travel to Samoa.
The 2019 Pacific Games was to be the fifth event (Pacific Games and Mini Games) for Ravu Mahuru.
The PNG team will honour the memory of the late team leader and oldest playing volleyball player in the Pacific with a minute’s silence before their first scheduled game this week.
Head coach Patrick Morea told Newsline Samoa while his team were training at the NUS gym yesterday, the players were trying to build up confidence again after the 36-year-old’s passing.
“The loss of our captain is a big blow for our team,” Morea said.
“Ravu was one of the successful captains in our sport.
“He was with our team when we won the silver medal in 2010, bronze in New Caledonia in 2011 and gold medal at the 2013 Mini Games in Vanuatu.”
“This was supposed to be his last Pacific Games before retiring but we won’t get to celebrate that moment as we no longer have him to lead our team.
“We were looking forward to these Games, and our new players were looking forward to playing with Ravu. It’s a challenge losing him this close to the Games.”
Morea said the team were working to adjust to venue and conditions in Apia.
“This is one of the challenges for our team, back home, we have a very huge facility, here it is very small but we are adjusting well and we will go for a medal no matter what colour,” he said.
“Our late captain will be in our minds when we face the challenge on the court.”
Morea said New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna would be their biggest threats. – newslinesamoa.ws