Cricket PNG seeks new coach; academy launched for West Papua football talent; and French Polynesia prepares for Pacific Games
Cricket coach leaves role
PNG Barramundis head coach Carl Sandri has resigned.
The Post Courier reports Sandri has been on leave from Cricket PNG since returning from the recent ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, where the Barramundis finished third.
PNG Barramundis coach Carl Sandri. Photo: Screenshot
He was not with the team during the recent Australian tour where they played in the NT Strike Top End T20 competition.
Cricket PNG said Sandri has decided to stand down due to personal and family reasons, which impacted his ability to travel with the team and spend adequate time in PNG.
The Chairman of the Cricket PNG Board, Michael Harrison, said Sandri has led the Barramundis through a very difficult and unprecedented period due to covid-19 travel restrictions.
"It's unfortunate that Covid-19 happened at the beginning of Sandri's appointment as this severely impacted his ability to mobilise to PNG and work closely with the players.
"Both parties agreed that this is critical for any Cricket PNG coach and important for longer term success of the Cricket PNG High-Performance Programme, Harrison said.
Although taking over the head coaching role at the height of Covid restrictions, Sandri led the Barramundis to their inaugural Senior ICC T20 World Cup.
The Barramundis won an ODI bilateral series in Nepal and recorded their first win in the Cricket World Cup League Two series under his stewardship.
President launches West Papua football academy
Indonesian President Joko Widodo played football with young prospects of the Papua Football Academy as he launched an academy for youth to hone their talents.
In a broadcast, Widodo was seen passing the ball with young players at the Lukas Enembe Stadium in West Papua.
Widodo says West Papua has several talents in the field of sports, including football, athletics and rowing.
Under the academy, children from the age of 12 have the opportunity to enter the various age group national teams and the Indonesian senior national teams.
Up to 30 Papuan boys have been selected from a total of 477 registrants with the talent search being conducted in the cities of Timika, Merauke, and Jayapura.
All students receive a full scholarship to get training for two years.
Olympic Committee readying for next Pacific Games
The French Polynesia Olympic Committee has launched a multi-party project to prepare athletes for next year's Pacific Games.
Officials from French Polynesia's Youth and Sports Department, the French Sports Ministry and the joint-run Youth and Sport Technical Support Mission were invited to help plot a course to the Games, set to be held in the Solomon Islands in 2023.
This will cover training, team selection and avenues of collaboration.
After 2023, French Polynesia is due to host the next Pacific Games.