A fundraising dinner was hosted on the weekend by Hagen District Sports Association to support youths in the rural areas.
President, Simon Kama, was disappointed with poor contribution of athletes from the other three electorates of Western Highlands Province.
The Hagen District Sports Association has 20 sporting codes which represents Team Western Highlands in the PNG Games.
PNG’s sprint queen, Toea Wisil, was a product of Hagen District Sports Association.
Another athlete is Taekwando Bronze Medalist from the 2015 Pacific Games, Stephanie Kombo.
The objective of the Association is to improve sporting conduct by identifying raw talent in the rural areas and give them a second chance in life.
Despite Mt Hagen being the third City, there are no sporting avenues for these promising athletes to train and excel.
At the dinner, President Simon Kama urged the Government, Local MPs and the City Authority to build sporting infrastructure.
He said there are many who possess raw talent in the Province, but there is no avenue and support to build them up.
Kama also urged business houses to build sports stores so that trophies and sports uniforms can be purchased in Mt Hagen.
The sports men and women were told at the dinner that Mt Hagen City Authority is yet to be funded by the National Government.
Currently, they are funded by the Hagen Open Member, William Duma.
However, the Authority’s CEO, Leo Noki, pledged to work together with the Association to build a sporting infrastructure that can cater up to 65,000 sitting capacity.
The 2015 Pacific Games Bronze Medalist, Stephanie Kombo, spoke of her hardship being an athlete from Western Highlands Province.
Meanwhile, Kama said team Western Highlands through the Association needs greater support from the local members of Parliament.
He also thanked the support of the sitting member for Hagen Open, William Duma.
