PNG’s Team Vabukori Tests New Playing Surface

Wed, May 06 2009

Papua New Guinea’s crack indoor volleyball team, Team Vabukori, has arrived in Darwin and went directly to the Marrara Sports Precinct on Wednesday to get acclimated to the Arafura Games 2009 volleyball venue.

“We are used to playing on a tar court,” said team manager Turaho Sevese Morea. “This is a good opportunity to get a feel of the court and the playing environment here in Australia.”

Team Vabukori took to the court in a friendly match against the Australian Defence Organisation (ADO), but every player on the squad was treating the match as if it was the final contest.

“These boys have been five months preparing for the Arafura Games,” said Mr Morea. “This is the PNG national team and it is endorsed by PBG Volleyball, so they know they have to perform well, and they will.”

All of the team members come from the village of Vabukori on the outskirts of Port Moresby and Mr Morea believes that this is a big advantage since all the players know each other well.

Indoor Volleyball gets underway on Saturday 9 May with Team Vabukori playing Victoria (Australia) at 8:30am and back in up at 12:30pm against today’s friendly rivals the ADO.

For more information go to www.arafuragames.nt.gov.au.

Gail Liston (08) 8920 5536 or 0407 207 335.