Youths keen to reform Morata

By ROBINSON LEKA
CHANGING the attitude of Morata residents and the perception that outsiders have of the Port Moresby suburb has become a goal for the youths of Lobu Place.
In Port Moresby’s North-West, Morata has always had a reputation for law and order problems.
But through their club, the Gateway Sharks, the Lobu community are keen on changing that image.
Since their establishment in 2004, the Sharks have been a mainstay, winning three titles in the suburban league at the Kone Tigers Oval.
Shark and Lobu resident Simon Auro said the club had come a long way since its inception with Eki Ene, Korian Bal, and siblings Josiah and Bland Abavu playing for Gateway.
“The club has always been made up of youths who reside at Lobu,” he said.
“So it has always kept most us away from bad habits during the festive season.
“After the offseason, the players usually go back to their Port Moresby Rugby Football League or suburban clubs.
“But the Sharks bond keeps us together during the offseason.
“Ene was one of the inspirational players to come out from the league.
“We all look up to him.
“Ene played for the (Port Moresby) Vipers and made it all the way to the Papua New Guinea Kumuls.
“He is now back in the Morata league as an official and helping run offseason matches.”
Simon said the bond between the players, families and friends had made it possible for them to network with others in the community and league.
“We must always show respect to our opponents,” he said.
“We try to bring that mindset back into the community and show respect to our mothers and sisters. You create a lot friends in the game.
“Even if someone is not on your team, you know each other through the game and you help each other if need be.

“The club has always been involved in community work, we do little things like help clean drains, bus stops or markets to make money for our registration fees and uniforms.
“In the past seven years, the Sharks had suffered a dry spell.
“But that changed last year when our A and B-Grade teams reached their respective grand finals.”
Although both teams finished runners-up, the resolve of the club had captured the interest of businessman Rodney Synell.
Through his business, Synell Paso Delta Hire Cars, Synell has now joined the Sharks’ efforts to create a better Morata with a K10,000 boost for the club.
“I moved to Morata in 2010 and when I first came, I found myself facing the common problems associated with this part of the city,” he said.
“Drinking, fighting and petty crimes were common and I guess that’s what people at that time used to think of Morata.
“Morata has come a long way since I moved here and part of the changes is because of young people here taking up sports.
“I came to know and work with the Sharks and like most of the people in my community, I usually hire the team to do small chores around my home and I came to see that things here are not as bad as they used to be.
“Morata’s reputation has always been a bad one, but I don’t want my kids growing up in such a community.
“So I’m trying to help change that image, starting with supporting the Sharks.”
When presenting a new set of uniforms to the Sharks, Synell said the onus was now on the club to continue giving back to the community and showing the rest of Morata and Port Moresby that change was possible through sports.