By Godwin Eki – EMTV Sports, Port Moresby
South Pacific AFL Development Manager, Ben Drew says the Paradise Foods Niu Kick School AFL program is used as a pathway to classify and recruit national and international players with eligibility to contracts overseas.
Not only did Drew speak about talent pathways, but also highlighted that female participation in the sport of AFL in PNG is also AFL PNG’s priority in promoting an equal playing field.
Since 2011, AFL PNG was able to increase the number of school students around the country to 40 000 and in the last two years to nearly 70 000 participants.
South Pacific Development Manager, Ben Drew says if it wasn’t for the support from Paradise Foods, such outcomes would not have come about.
Drew says while focusing on developing skills and techniques at a young age, discipline and respect towards one another is also taught through the Niu Kick Program so that these young AFL enthusiast grow up to be great sports men and women in the future.
A great example of a success story of the Paradise Foods Niu Kick Program is signing 16 year old Ewago Asei who is now playing for Gold Coast Suns in Australia.
Drew says like Asei, every young man and woman in the country can achieve their dream if they work hard and are passionate about the sport.
Moving forward, Drew says AFL PNG will continue to promote AFL in the country through its Niu Kick Program
