Cricket PNG (CPNG) and Bank South Pacific (BSP) officially launched the global award winning, junior cricket development program, BSP School Kriket Programme.
The program for the year was launched at Wardstrip Primary School in the National Capital District (NCD) today.
“Today marks another successful year of the popular BSP School Kriket Programme in PNG,” said CPNG Game Development/Training Manager, Vaianna Gabba.
The BSP School Kriket Programme was initially launched in 2009 at Wardstrip Primary School and has grown to be the biggest junior sports program in PNG and the East-Asia-Pacific (EAP) Region.
The program was designed to breed future Hebou PNG Barramundis and City Pharmacy PNG Lewas and at the same time, teach children the values of team work, respect, leadership, motor skills, dedication, communication and exercise, which are all some very important life skills.
“Over the years, the program has grown in PNG. There are now 10 centres with over 200 schools involved with a participation of over 188,000 girls and boys playing cricket at the age of as early as 3 or 4 years up to 15 years.
“We ensure that children both boys and girls participate in the BSP School Kriket Programme, at a young age as we promise to make the sport of cricket accessible to all,” said Gabba.
The BSP School Kriket Programme has won numerous ICC Global Development Awards in recent years, including Best Overall Development Program and Best Junior Participation Initiative.
In 2017, the BSP School Kriket Programme reached 187,952 participants across 261 schools and 145 clinics across ten provinces across PNG.
The program has produced current Hebou PNG Barramundis players Nosiana Pokana, Hiri Hiri, Kipling Doriga, Dogodo Bau and Damien Ravu as well as City Pharmacy PNG Lewas players Brenda Tau and Vicky A’ra.
Also, for the first time, the Hebou PNG Under 19 Garamuts that competed in the 2018 International Cricket Council (ICC) Under 19 Cricket World Cup EAP Qualifier in Samoa all came through the BSP School Kriket Programme.
“The program wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our good partner, Bank South Pacific.
“We are thankful for your continuous support. I am sure this will go a long way in marketing the bank through this junior sport development program in PNG,” concluded Gabba.
The BSP School Kriket Programme aims to hit over 150,000 participants across PNG for the sixth consecutive year since 2013.
BSP relationship manager paramount, Bertha Auwi, CPNG director of cricket, Gayan Loku, as well as the nine CPNG regional cricket managers were all present at the launch today.