News from Vanuatu

Many news from the Vanuatu reported by Zone Development Officer Jon Hoyle for the FIBA Oceania website. A new federation president, the upcoming competitions on the island and the number of problems facing basketball in Vanuatu. Source: FIBAoceania.com

Jon Hoyle reports a change of executive members in Vanuatu Basketball. The new president is Mr Roro Sambo, is a parliamentarian and a former national basketball rep.

Hoyle also wrote that the primary school competition has 13 boys and 13 girls teams participating. This competition is conducted by NBDO Peter Izono in conjunction with the Primary Schools Sports Association. While in Vanuatu Jon conducted a weeklong Level 1 Referees course and some coaching clinics for club teams and high schools in Port Vila.
Jon reported that there are a number of problems facing basketball in Vanuatu at the moment, including reduced court time at the main indoor facility because volleyball and futsal have moved into ExFol since the Korman indoor stadium is in disrepair. Also, vandalism at the Stadt court has rendered it unplayable. However the Port Vila association has found additonal outdoor courts at Tagabe to continue their competitions. The competition has grown to 35 teams this year, with games being played on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights and Saturday mornings. This is a real credit to the hard working members of the Port Vila association.
On Santo Island the Luganville association is active with their programs. VBF are fortunate to have Allan Mahit, former VBF president and his wife on the island to make sure that the basketball programs are running. The Luganville Association runs a Men's and Women's League and has plans to start an under 17 boys and girls league soon. Their 2005 plan has also been drawn with four main competitions for the year ie: A pre season, the 2005 Championship, the 25th Independence "Silver Jubilee" Tournament and the Closing Tournament. LBA is also lucky to have the Hotel Santo as their main Sponsor for the year.
The biggest National Event scheduled for the Island of Santo this year will be the Provincial Secondary School Games in August organised by the schools of the country with the support of the National Government. VBF is looking to send its NBDO to Luganville as the Basketball Technical Official for the event