Cricket breaks new ground in PNG
Way back in September 1999, under the then visionary leadership of Veari Maha, Wayne Satchell and their cricket board colleagues, Cricket PNG was promised a Turf wicket and improved facilities at Amini Park and Colts Cricket Ground. Australian cricket icon, Alan Border, visited Port Moresby and promoted the need to have improved facilities by taking part in an official "ground-breaking ceremony"
"The vision of Veari Maha and his board was definitely correct and the need for world-class facilities is critical for cricket in this country to have a place on the international stage," said Bill Leane, General Manager of Cricket PNG.
In a column written by Martin Liri for the National in September 1999, Maha was quoted as saying: "We spend a lot of money sending teams overseas but there is no marked difference. Unless the players play matches on turf wickets, we are going to be behind. It's a lot of work but I can't let PNG sit back."
In describing having an international standard facility, he said: "It's going to change the status of cricket in PNG. The ICC requires PNG to have three first-class standard turf wickets and suitable facilities to be able to qualify to host international cricket. Breaking ground now on the project to install turf wickets at Colts Cricket Ground and Amini Park will be just the first step. For the players to learn how to play on turf, we have to have more than one ground that is why so much effort is going into the three grounds in our precinct".
Under the chairmanship of Mick Nades, an avid cricket fanatic and long time resident of PNG since 1976, the Cricket PNG business has grown significantly to a stage where it can provide the funding and commercial support to make the dream of turf wickets a reality. "Thanks to Wayne Satchell's constant encouragement, I became involved with the board and was elected as Chairman in 2005," stated Nades.
"What you see today is a vastly different Amini Park, Colts Cricket ground and Ken Lifu reserve. Cricket PNG now has a full-time administration, with 10 full-time staff and we are currently recruiting another 24 full-time and part-time positions as part of our junior development team," he said. "It is true that the vision that Veari had way back in 1999 has led us in many ways to where we are now headed and the joy we have in breaking ground on the developments at Amini Park and Colts are in many way attributable to Veari and his board back in 1999. "
"Back in 1999, Maha estimated the costs of a cricket stadium to be K2.2Million. In today's economy, just putting in turf wickets at Colts Cricket Ground and Amini has a material and labour cost of over K1 Million."
"To be able to achieve what we are now doing is due to the significant support of local business such as Hebou Constructions, Monier, Constantinou family, Brian Bell, Badili Hardware, Esco, Central Drillers, BSP, Cricket Queensland, Cricket Australia, The Gabba trust, Air Niugini, Jimboomba Turf and our cricket loving supporters, players, POMCA executive and its clubs," said Nades.
Cricket and AFL football have very strong traditional links and the project and the developments at Amini Park are welcomed and supported by AFL PNG Oceania Development Manager for AFL, Andrew Cadzow, and AFL PNG Game Development Manager, Walter Yagomina. Yagomina said: "The work already completed within the three grounds is amazing. The surface improvements, the careful planning, the reclaiming of unused ground, the positioning and development of the facilities is also exciting for AFL PNG".
Yagomina commented: "Cricket PNG and AFL PNG signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together to develop facilities and our codes together, back in November 2009. The developments at Colts Cricket Ground, Ken Lifu reserve and Amini Park will support the long-term growth of AFL football in PNG."
"The work at Amini Park and Colts is scheduled to have the grounds and wickets ready for the international series between Australia Indigenous and Cricket PNG in late July," reminded Bill Leane. "We are planning some excitement around the official opening".
