By Rayon Lakingu – EMTV Sports, Port Moresby
Up to 95 percent of Papua New Guinea’s National Volleyball team, is dominated by players from the Vabukori Amateur Volleyball Association. The Association was established in 1992 and has been running for twenty-six years, however, a major challenge faced by the association is a lack of funding.
Vabukori Village, about 10 minutes from Port Moresby, is said to be a hot spot for Volleyball. The local association, VAVA, has competed in the PNG National Volleyball Championships and won 13 titles consecutively.
Vava also boasts gold medal wins, from the Arafura Games in 2009 and defended it successfully in 2011.
In an interview with EMTV Sports, President Dai Geno, said that the only challenge the association is faced with, is a shortage of funds, to run the association.
Despite being a force to be reckoned with, in local and international volleyball, the association has been missing out on many international invites, and representative games, simply because they lack the financial capacity to appear at this friendlies.
The Association is now calling on business houses and other corporate agencies, to help support the association in its operations.
They have also registered a five year business plan with IPA, to help provide realistic and functional development programs for Indoor and Beach Volleyball in the country.
