PORT MORESBY (Papua New Guinea) – The Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea are preparing to host the Australian Defence Forces and FIBA experts for coaching and officiating workshops.

The Australian Defence Forces (ADF) travel to various locations in the Pacific to upskill local sport and recreation officials. This year the ADF and the Basketball Federation of PNG (BFPNG) will be coordinating coaching and officiating workshops in Port Moresby and Madang.

In line with the BFPNG Strategic Plan, of working closely and collaboratively with member federations on basketball development training, these workshops will provide coaches and officials with the necessary skills to gain specific FIBA accreditation through Start Coaching and Start Refereeing.

BFPNG Executive Officer, Miskus Lapan, said that the joint initiative will strengthen basketball capacity within the community.

“We look forward to working with the ADF to run these workshops,” Mr Lapan said. “Volunteers do a lot of work across our basketball community and to be in a position to facilitate additional training and accreditation is a great way to ensure the longevity of basketball in PNG.”

It is expected the 100 members of the basketball community will attend the workshops across the two locations with the ADF and FIBA facilitating the workshop training and accreditation.

BFPNG is supported by the ADF, FIBA, the Australian Government's Sports for Development Program and Team Up in making these workshops possible.