Eli is back from Port Moresby

After two weeks in Port Moresby for the PNG Games, Eli finally made it back to Goroka last Thursday afternoon.

It was certainly nice to have some space and the house to myself whilst Eli was in the capital with the Eastern Highlands Hockey team, but it sure was tops to see my sweetheart again and give each other the biggest of hugs. Considering the violent town that Port Moresby is, I was very much relieved that Eli and other team members made it back safely.

Half the time Eli was away I survived on 2 Minute Noodles, sausages, eggs, cheese and crackers together with the odd serving of fruit. The other half and when I wasn’t busy perfecting the proverbial bachelor recipes and sinking copious amounts of Goroka coffee – I was fortunate to have the following “mamas” stay over and cook the odd hearty meal of greens, rice and other fresh garden vegetables. (No tinpis for this dude!)

From left to right we have “Mama Kiagi” – related to Eli from  her father’s side (common ancestor about 5 generations ago), “Mama Maria” – no relation but a close friend of the family and helps us around the house couple of days a week – and of course “Mama Anna” – Eli’s blood aunty (Dad’s sister) who has lived with us on and off for the past three years (photo taken in our backyard).


The PNG Games are officially over and most of the athletes and officials now back in their home province. The Games were a relative success from a sporting point of view (the Eastern Highlands came 3rd in the medal tally – I think). However, there are now a few hundred disgruntled athletes back in Goroka that are not very happy about the way they were treated and intend to take their grievances to the Sports Office at Provincial Headquarters sometime tomorrow (Monday).

I’ve been hearing more stories about the antics certain team officials got up to in the big smoke. Instead of attending to their duties and responsibilities, I hear that some were waylaid satisfying “other” and more “important” needs.

Obviously, I feel a strong empathy towards the players – there is a general feeling of having been let down and abandoned by their management. I sincerely hope that when the team(s) front at Provincial Headquarters tomorrow – the issues are raised, discussed and dealt with in a civilised and appropriate manner.