Pictured: The SP PNG Hunters and the PNG Barramundis had spent the morning swapping skills from their respective codes.
By Fidelis Sukina – EMTV Sports, Port Moresby
IN what has been a first for sporting codes in the nation’s capital, a ‘Swap code’ session was organized yesterday by SP Brewery, in efforts to further promote the codes of both Cricket and Rugby League.
The session saw the SP PNG Hunters and the PNG Barramundis spend the morning swapping skills from their respective codes.
As the naming rights sponsor of the SP PNG Hunters, and associate sponsor of the Hebou Barramundis, SP Brewery has effectively built a bridge between the two codes, and established bonds of healthy appreciation from both teams for the skills required to perform at their best.
The day began with the Hunters taking part in cricket drills at Amini Park, the home of PNG Cricket. The team spent an hour at the cricket grounds facing a few balls, and learning the basics.
The Barramundis then travelled to the home of the SP PNG Hunters, the Oil Search National Football Stadium. There, both teams split in two, before they got into a kicking game, to test the players’ hand-eye coordination skills, and their ability to communicate well and catch the ball.
Hebou Barramundis Coach, Joe Dawes, and Hunters Coach, Michael Marum, were happy with the code swap, and were possibly exchanging tips on training and fitness. The day ended with a game of touch footy, with both teams putting their athleticism on display.
Barramundis Vice-Captain, Charles Amini, was grateful for the experience, as the men’s national cricket team has been training for the last six months, for the T20 Cup Qualifiers.
“It’s been a very fun experience, in that this relationship that we’ve built today, hopefully, can continue further, but I think the boys have really learned a lot. Not just fun and games, but learning a lot from the really long touch game.
“When you’re under fatigue, it shows that you can still complete your skills under pressure,” said Charles Amini.
