PANGUNA (31/08/2018): Bougainville Copper Limited is partnering with the Autonomous Bougainville Government’s Department of Community Development in supporting the much-needed upskilling of volleyball coaches and referees from the Panguna District.
The refereeing and coaching course started in Panguna on Monday (27 August) with more than 30 participants from the Ioro 1, Ioro 2, Eivo and Torau community government areas attending.
The course is an initiative of the Department of Community Development and Bougainville Copper is pleased to be sponsoring the program.
Andrew Ikufu, a recognised referee and coach from the PNG Volleyball Federation, is being ably assisted by Graham Kakarouts from the Department of Economic Development in facilitating the course, with support from Fabian Kotsin and Gerard Tacussy from the Department of Community Development.
Mr Ikufu said the one-week course provided a good opportunity to develop new skills and he encouraged participants to ask plenty of questions to get the most out of it.
Mr Ikufu will take participants through the history and rules of the game of volleyball and said that on course completion, Bougainville will have certified volleyball coaches and referees that will look after teams and games throughout Bougainville.
Mr Kakarouts thanked Bougainville Copper for its generous support and said that a survey conducted by the department, showed that volleyball was widely played throughout Bougainville, but there was a shortage of those with technical expertise to coach teams and referee games.
The course will help address these shortages. He said the course was very timely considering the last volleyball course in Bougainville was conducted back in in 1983 by Raphael Sapea when there were just four certified volleyball coaches and referees in the region.
“At the end of the course, participants will be tested on what they have learned and if they pass the test they will then be properly certified to referee and coach,” Mr Kakarouts said.
“The National Volleyball Federation will recognise the certificates and we are fortunate to have Mr Ikufu here to take everyone through the necessary processes.”
Chairman of Bougainville Copper Sir Mel Togolo said wider participation in sports such as volleyball was something BCL was keen to promote.
“We know many young Bougainvilleans like to play sport and that is something that needs to be encouraged because of the many benefits it brings. Courses such as this help to ensure we have the structures in place to support the development of popular sports like volleyball and we are more than happy to assist in this regard,” he said.