Touch Footy - Making Inroads into PNG Communities
By Sylvester Gawi - NBC PNG Sports
Papua New Guinea is ranked third in the International Touch Federation's world ranking and the code continues to inspire young people from communities where law and order is a major problem. Every child that grew up in the 80s and 90s had played touch footy with plastic bottles before switching to rugby and soccer balls.
The code is underfunded unlike rugby league and soccer and so as basic services in many of these communities that embrace touch footy into their homes.
For the people of Lae city, a touch footy player, referee and event organizer is bringing together young touch footballers from around the city to a festivity of games. Dennis Seeto, well known for his contributions towards setting up the Lae Corporate Touch Association and leading referees in the PNG Touch Federation is keen to see touch footy breaking barriers.
"Touch footy is bringing together everyone from the communities and it's pleasing to note that young people stay fit and occupied taking part in sports and not causing problems in their communities," says Dennis.
There are three(3) touch associations in Lae. Huon, Lae Touch Association and Lae Corporate Touch. Most of these associations are made up of clubs from communities and settlements occupied by low to medium income earners. These communities are where poverty thrives and rascal gangs are frequently poised a security concern for many businesses in the industrial hub.
The 2016 Niugini Supa 4s Touch Footy Championship is a growing success of Dennis' commitment to develop the code in Lae city.
This year teams from Oro, Madang, Mt Hagen and Port Moresby took part in the challenge and the pool of young talents were given a good exposure.
For Dennis, touch footy is his hobby, so as music entertainment which he does outside of his day job with Boroko Motors in Lae. With his passionate leadership, he was able to pull in sponsors to prepare for this year's tournament. the support from the business community towards the championship and the participating teams was overwhelming resulting in a good conclusion of the three days event.
While the Supa 4 concept was introduced in PNG for the first time in Lae in 2015, it is expected to be played in other centers by next year.
But Dennis still believes that PNG Touch will still reach number one in world ranking and the best thing to do is to get the players involved in more competition.
Papua New Guinea is ranked third in the International Touch Federation's world ranking and the code continues to inspire young people from communities where law and order is a major problem. Every child that grew up in the 80s and 90s had played touch footy with plastic bottles before switching to rugby and soccer balls.
The code is underfunded unlike rugby league and soccer and so as basic services in many of these communities that embrace touch footy into their homes.
For the people of Lae city, a touch footy player, referee and event organizer is bringing together young touch footballers from around the city to a festivity of games. Dennis Seeto, well known for his contributions towards setting up the Lae Corporate Touch Association and leading referees in the PNG Touch Federation is keen to see touch footy breaking barriers.
"Touch footy is bringing together everyone from the communities and it's pleasing to note that young people stay fit and occupied taking part in sports and not causing problems in their communities," says Dennis.
There are three(3) touch associations in Lae. Huon, Lae Touch Association and Lae Corporate Touch. Most of these associations are made up of clubs from communities and settlements occupied by low to medium income earners. These communities are where poverty thrives and rascal gangs are frequently poised a security concern for many businesses in the industrial hub.
The 2016 Niugini Supa 4s Touch Footy Championship is a growing success of Dennis' commitment to develop the code in Lae city.
This year teams from Oro, Madang, Mt Hagen and Port Moresby took part in the challenge and the pool of young talents were given a good exposure.
For Dennis, touch footy is his hobby, so as music entertainment which he does outside of his day job with Boroko Motors in Lae. With his passionate leadership, he was able to pull in sponsors to prepare for this year's tournament. the support from the business community towards the championship and the participating teams was overwhelming resulting in a good conclusion of the three days event.
While the Supa 4 concept was introduced in PNG for the first time in Lae in 2015, it is expected to be played in other centers by next year.
But Dennis still believes that PNG Touch will still reach number one in world ranking and the best thing to do is to get the players involved in more competition.
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