It was an occasion for celebration as the Tainalederea Netball Association held a huge launch for their 2024 season competitions, attended by their local Moresby South MP Justin Tkatchenko on Saturday 27 April 2024.
This mostly Kerema section of Vabukori village in the Moresby South electorate of NCD has experienced what sport can do for their community.
Apart from the local MP, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs and also responsible for National Events, the launch was graced with the presence of the pioneers of the association who initiated it some 20-odd years ago.
Today, the youngest players are under 10, and the association has high ambitions for a few of these youngsters to one day play for the national team, the PNG Pepes.
The little-known Tainalederea community came alive, with the four teams taking part in the competition showing off their vibrant colours from their newly shown uniforms, through their MP’s support for women SME in the electorate.
The competition was revived in 2020, following a two-year absence when association president, Roselyn Maso, pursued her studies overseas.
She returned, and due to the popularity of the netball competitions have meant for this community, received support from the local MP to revive it.
PNG HAUSBUNG was fortunate enough to be provided transport to and from launching to witness the excitement and celebration the women and girls had in store for their upcoming competitions, with Minister Tkatchenko trying to take on a player to score in one of new hoops for this competition.
Minister Tkatchenko, although failing to score, was happy and impressed with the resilience of the women and girls in this tiny section of Vabukori village.
“I’m here this morning to say thank you to all the hard-working women for getting this netball competition off the ground again.”
“From young and old, congratulations for launching the 2024 netball competition.”
“I give my respects and honour to our senior women who started the netball competition many years ago.
“To all my wonderful women of Tainalederea, thank you for your support, and wish you all the teams all the best in this competition.”
Tkatchenko acknowledged the organizing committee for their effort in putting everything together.
“T believe the competition will roll over in the next months which will allow villagers and community to get together and enjoy sports.”
“Netball and other sports bring our communities and families together so we can all have a good time in the name of sports.”
The Minister received more hurrahs when he assured the women and girls of his attendance to their grand final later in the year.
Also present to witness the event was Foreign Affairs Secretary Elas Wohengu.
Ms Maso said the competition was initiated about 20 years ago but was put off for some time.
Together with other women leaders in the community, they revived it on September 16, 2020, successfully completing two grand finals.
Ms Maso said this time there are four teams comprising six divisions, under 10, under 15, Under 17 and Under 21, and a masters division.
“1 revived the netball competition in 2020 to bring a sense of unity for women and girls.”
“Aboul 95 percent of the players are unemployed, and others are still in school.”
“Through netball, the ladies are strengthening their sisterhood while growing women’s ministry.”