Welfare a priority: Coach

By PARKER TAMBUA
SP Hunters coach Matthew Church says Papua New Guinea international Stargroth Amean’s withdrawal has indicated the need to consider player welfare ahead of the side’s relocation to Australia next year.
Amean, who will likely remain with the Port Moresby Vipers for next season in the Digicel Cup, said on Monday that he had withdrawn from the 2021 squad to due to work commitments.
Church said all the players remaining in the train-on squad were willing to make a sacrifice and spend nine months in Queensland for the Intrust Super Cup season.
“Amean wants to remain in PNG due to work commitments,” the Australian said.
“I took that as an indication and over the next couple of weeks, we will be having conversations with every player.
“They all came into camp excited and are willing to make a sacrifice for the betterment of the game in PNG.
“I think the hardest part will be to make them come back home.
“If someone is going to struggle with life in Australia then probably it’s not in everyone’s best interest for us to send them down.
“We might have to make some tough calls based on that.
“It’s pretty hard for some of them, to send them to a different country and stay away from their families for nine months.
“Their welfare comes first.”
Church said the club management would look into educational and employment opportunities for the players when the final squad relocated to Brisbane early next year.
“I will be looking into the players’ education and work placements while we are down there,” he said.
Church said it was also a great opportunity for the team to go down to Australia because they would return as better Papua New Guineans.