Playing Soccer in PNG

Playing soccer in PNG has certainly been an experience!

It’s a different game here.

There’s no other way to describe it.

Community sport is a massive part of PNG life. For the entire weekend, rain or shine, scores of people can be found around the sports field; playing sport, watching sport, talking about sport.

Needless to say it was quite the entertainment when a ‘dimdim’ (white girl) decided to try her luck at joining a local team.

Becoming a celebrity athlete…

Each weekend on the radio we do a regular sports segment. Apparently me playing soccer was newsworthy enough to make the cut and I was forced into the studio to discuss my soccer debut. This was broadcast just hours before our game – meaning that when it came to game time the oval had attracted a bigger crowd than I have ever seen there. All out to check out the white girl.

Furthermore, apparently it was appropriate to make an announcement about me on the loud speaker during the game! The officials have a tent set up on the side of the field with a PA and they announced to the crowd who the white girl was, where I was from, what I was doing here, my soccer background, etc etc etc. I don’t think I have ever been such a spectacle!

Under - resourcing…

There is one sporting field in Alotau. It is used for both soccer and rugby. For women’s soccer alone there are 19 teams. Every team needs to share the oval. As a result, games are played in 20 minute halves so that each team has a chance to play.

The mud, always the mud…

Alotau gets more rain than just about anywhere in the world! The pitch is constantly being rained on, and constantly being played on. It is an absolute mud pit. No joke, there are puddles so big that frogs live in them.

Several times I have had to change the way I was dribbling in the middle of games because all of a sudden there was a frog hopping in front of me.

Even though the games are only 40 minutes long, the mud makes it such hard yakka. The game here doesn’t involve much passing or dribbling. It’s more of a kick and run affair. I’m beginning to realise that this may have evolved not through lack of coaching but out of pure necessity of getting around the mud!

Rituals…

Before every game, we say a prayer. At half time, we say a prayer. After the game, we say a prayer.

I may not be religious but I actually think that this is lovely.

It’s more just a time to reflect and be thankful. The types of things said include; we hope that we are able to support each other today and that we are blessed with a good result, we hope that the referee is fair, and that our opponents have a safe game. They often thank god for the experience of having me on their team and hope that they will learn all they can. After the game they pray that everyone makes it home safely.

These are all things that I would think of when playing back home, but here it’s all open and voiced. And although it’s to a higher power, I think it’s just nice that it’s said and considered at all.

The PNG of it all…

The pitch that we play on, though muddy, is stunning. It’s right by the water and surrounded by palm trees.

I’ve never seen the level of sportsmanship displayed here anywhere else in the world. After each game both teams huddle together in a big group hug and chat about the game before everyone is individually acknowledged and hugged!

There is no kind of planning, communication or strategy on the field. But it seems to work.

All in all, soccer in PNG is pretty metaphoric of my everyday life in here; a good spirited, relaxed, friendly type of organised chaos that I rarely understand.