It’s all a go for the Australian Football League (AFL) Junior Program in the city of Port Moresby with the Junior Development program already given the go ahead to hosts its activities for 2022, which includes the schools’ competitions.
According to the Manager of the AFL Junior Development Program Mr. David Topeni, the Education Department along with the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Sports Foundation has given the go ahead with strict COVID-19 measures in place to be followed during the running of these programs.
Mr. Topeni said that they will commence with the Smart Start Niukick awareness program at the schools, both primary and secondary schools in the National Capital District (NCD).
“The awareness program will include awareness as well on COVID-19 and the measurers taken or put in place to be followed as part of safety measures to run the activities. This is in addition to the normal footy skills theory and practical program.”
Topeni said due to the pandemic, the Niukick program will run in Port Moresby first for the schools during the first and second terms. Meanwhile, the Smart Start Niukick program will lead the way for the start of the actual schools’ competition program for 2022, which should be towards the middle of the year.
Mr. Topeni said the schools’ competition will see the primary schools go first and then followed by the secondary schools’ competition.
For the primary schools, there will be the under-13s for the boys and under-16s for their girls, while the secondary schools will see the under- 17s for both boys and girls, participate.
This year will see a total of eight schools in Port Moresby city participate in the schools’ competition.