Wantok Int’l helps Hagen AFL

AUSTRALIAN Football League (AFL) players in Mt Hagen were given rugby boots last month, thanks to Wantoks International.The timely donation of jerseys, boots, water bottles, bags, tracksuits, and shirts came at a time when the players were gearing up for the national championships in Goroka, Eastern  Highlands.Wantoks International is a Sydney-based family-run organisation that assists communities in health and education services.AFL highlands coordinator Elizah Barewoi said the donation was god-send for youths in the province. He said the gear was donated anonimously.
Barewoi said the donation was unexpected because he had no former contact with the group and was told that the donation was organized by a woman in Melbourne.
He has yet to find out about the anonymous woman, but was full of praise for her.
The players were told that more of such donations would come and Barewoi said this was a blessing in disguise.He said the player’s efforts and the sporting code had gone unrecognized by the government which focuses mostly on rugby league, but the donation was the backing AFL needed.
The players make up the highlands squad that will take part in the national championships.
Barewoi said more than 80 players for the under 16 girls, and boys under 14, 16 and 17 team, which will represent the region in the championships, received a boot each.
The championships will be held on the 22nd to the 25th of this month.
The players are already into hard training to secure spots for scholarships, and confirm places in the PNG Binatangs team.Unlike other codes, AFL provides opportunities for players to represent PNG overseas in many competitions several times annually.