By CHARLIE DUMAVI
AS PNG National netball team Pepes departed the country today for Singapore to take part in the 2023 Mirxes Cup, Rowyna Vela is finally realising her dream to represent her family and country.
Started playing netball at the age of seven with her sister following the footstep of her grandmother, Rowyna said she has been falling short to make the Pepes for years and the opportunity is finally presenting itself to her.
“My grandmother takes us to Barakau village (Central province) where we don’t know anything about netball.
“We were just told to go on the court and hang around and that’s when we started to learn,” she said.
Rowyna added that when she grew up she took part in competitions in Port Moresby’s Rita Flynn with Snax Mermaids until she moved to Australia for studies where she continued taking part in school competitions.
She is currently playing for Phoenix.
“My grandmother who is a life member of netball PNG got us started and we all took up netball because it was something that was just around.
“We would be at the courts all the time so we kind of have to play,” Rowyna expressed.
She said representing PNG means a lot not only to herself but her family.
“This is a great opportunity to play for my country, myself and my family because they really support netball and myself.
“We have few good shooters in the team but I am hopping I can play well so then I can go to Solomon Islands and play in the Pacific Games,” she said.
The Gaire and Pore Bada mix parentage goal shooter said she has learnt a lot from here team members in camp and they are ready to represent PNG in the Singapore as a build up for the Pacific games in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
Rowyna said she has learnt a lot from her fellow shooters; Tiata Baldwin, Kala Ali, Alessandra and Goloa Ovoa.
PNG Pepes include; Hana Barretto, Sahnnaz Appelis, Lesieli Taviri, Jayden Molo, Jeperth Tulapi and Ntalie Onno (defenders) Micheala Kadlecek, Yves Chee, Tia Molo, Jacklyn Laharai, Milly Chee and Maddison Sivyeer (Mid-Courts)
PNG will take on the home side on Sunday October 22, 2023 at 3pm followed by Canada on October 23 at 5pm, Singapore A team on Tuesday October 24 at 5pm, Sri Lanka at 5pm on Wednesday October 25, 2023.
The team will then rest on October 26 and play Cook Island on October 27 to conclude their round games.
The finals will start from October 28 to November 2, 2023 followed by the closing ceremony after the grandfinal.
Pic caption: Rowyna Vele
