4 minute read
On the front foot
Sport
On the front foot: the rise and rise of PNG Cricket
BY LEMACH LAVARI | PHOTOGRAPHS: PIXELS PERSPECTIVE
On the face of it, Papua New Guinea’s Barramundis men’s cricket team is currently the country’s most outstanding national team.
The Barramundis qualified for the 2020 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup that was due to be played in Australia during October and November, however the tournament has been postponed until 2022 because of COVID-19.
PNG was one of 16 teams scheduled to play off for the World Cup. The Barramundis would have rubbed shoulders with cricket powerhouses such as Australia, England, India and Pakistan and lesser-known teams such as Scotland and Namibia.
Assad Vala, the captain of the Barramundi men’s cricket team.
PNG’s qualification has been the culmination of many years of hard work and it was a long time coming, with the skilful team just missing qualification in the previous three World Cups.
Joe Dawes, a former state-level cricketer in Queensland, was appointed as the team’s national coach and high-performance manager in 2018. He steered the team to a gold medal at the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa, as well as the World Cup qualification.
“He has brought a new level of professionalism and attitude to cricket in PNG,” says Cricket PNG manager Lee McDowell.
The playing list includes big talents such as captain Assad Vala, Norman Vanua, Charles Amini and Kiplin Doriga.
“The skill level of the group is incredible and if they can turn that into consistent performances they will have a great deal of success in all forms,” says Dawes.
Through Dawes’ connections, Amini and Vanua have trained with the Adelaide Strikers cricket team in Australia, while Vala and Doriga had a stint with the North Canberra Gungahlin cricket club in Australian Capital Territory’s premier grade.
The team’s qualification in the World Cup has sparked huge interest in junior cricket.
Cricket PNG has a strong domestic framework for juniors through affiliated associations around the country. On top of this, it has the international award-winning BSP School Kriket Program, which has been in operation for 11 years. The program had 250,000 participants last year.
Joe Dawes, the national cricket coach.
“However, there are challenges in providing facilities and equipment to make sure kids have the opportunity to participate,” says McDowell.
The Australian Government is funding 48 new wickets around the country, which is a huge help. Equipment availability and affordability is another issue that Cricket PNG is trying to solve.
Cricket PNG is also developing and implementing systems to find new players through a talent identification program sponsored by Swire Shipping. This program is building a sustainable future for the Barras, as well as the PNG women’s team, the Lewas.
Meanwhile, Cricket PNG’s game development department is continuing with its school program and other community initiatives to foster interest in cricket in schools and village communities across the country.
Sport: Locker room chat
JUSTIN OLAM RUGBY LEAGUE PLAYER
BY GABRIELLA MUNOZ | PHOTOGRAPH: NRL PHOTOS
When he was six years old, rugby league player Justin ‘Juzzy’ Olam watched Melbourne Storm win the 1999 NRL grand final against the St George Illawarra Dragons. Fast forward two decades and 26-year-old Olam is playing centre for the team that inspired him to dream big and work hard when he was a little kid living in Kundiawa, in Chimbu Province.
Justin Olam on …
Playing with my friends as a kid I broke my collarbone in my first carry and had to stop. I didn’t play rugby again for two years. I started playing seriously in 2012, when I was 18 and had started my university degree (Olam graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Physics from the PNG University of Technology).
FOR THE RECORD Nicknames: ‘Juzzy’ & ‘The Human Brick’ Team: Melbourne Storm Position: Centre Age: 26 Melbourne Storm says: 2019 was a stunning breakout year for Juzzy, who was called up to first grade in round 15 after a string of impressive performances at feeder level. Plays with seemingly no sense of self-preservation and his fearless style have won him countless fans.
My favourite players:
When I was growing up were Billy Slater and Marcus Bai (who is also the first Papua New Guinean to make it to Melbourne Storm).
This year with Melbourne Storm:
I just want to stay healthy and play as many games as I possibly can.
My former team:
The PNG Hunters are doing great. I see a lot of players coming out of clubs and that’s what the team is for; for Papua New Guineans to go and play and keep in the right direction. The Hunters have a new coach, Matt Church, and I know they are going to get so much better. Keeping grounded is something I do by always remembering where I came from.
My advice for aspiring Papua New Guinean players is to believe in yourself and follow your dreams; work very, very hard because nothing in this life is easy.
