Late Kato Ottio and Wellington Albert were scheduled to fly to the United Kingdom today to join the Widnes Vikings.
Albert told EMTV today, he will not travel as scheduled because he not only lost a teammate but a friend and a brother as well.
He will travel to the UK after the funeral service of late Ottio.
Just last Christmas, late Kato Ottio was at his home village in Tatana, celebrating with his family.
On Boxing Day, an EMTV News crew caught up with him at Tatana, where he was busy overseeing a volleyball competition.
He said then, that he was looking forward to his trip to the U.K.
Unfortunately, this would be a trip he will not be making.
Like many Papua New Guineans, Albert said he was still coming to terms with the loss of his friend.
Late Ottio, who passed away in the early hours of Tuesday morning, left many fans shocked.
Social media platform, Facebook, was flooded with condolence messages and the shocking news of the 23-year-old’s passing.
Vice Sports Minister, Wesley Raminai, while conveying his condolences to the late Kumuls Star’s Family, thanked him and his family to have given their son to represent PNG in various sporting codes.
He added that Ottio’s contribution to PNG Sports,( volleyball, rugby 9s, rugby league) will always be appreciated and is reflected through the many youth who look up to him.
