Tara Murray
Among the players preparing for the Victorian Turf Cricket Association season are seven players who have come out from Vanuatu.
While several Vanuatu players have come out before and played in several different competitions, there hasn’t been as many in one go.
With different managers and contacts sometimes those opportunities have dried up after a couple of seasons.
Vanuatu high performance manager and national coach Chris Laffan said he was keen to those connections back up and going.
He said it was an exciting opportunity for the players to come out to Australia and play.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for them to get as much experience as possible,” he said. “It’s a different environment to ply their trade in.
“We’ve got seven playing in the VTCA and two others in some other competitions, including one in the women’s premier competition.
“It’s something that I’m really excited about.”
Laffan said one of the biggest challenges was getting the opportunities for the players.
Many players look to do seasonal work at this time of year so they have to find viable options so the players are willing to come across.
“We put the opportunity in front of the players and they take everything up,” he said. “We had to put something conceivable that stacks up against seasonal work.
“It’s good to give them a chance and to get nine players out here and I couldn’t be happier.”
Laffan used some of his contacts in the VTCA to help find players a home. Laffan previously played and coached at Craigieburn.
He said Kane Twentyman, whose company Ferox supplies the players with a lot of equipment, had been really good using his contacts as well.
Laffan said the VTCA was keen to make it work as well.
“We are thankful for the VTCA and Zoran Havranek for their commitment to the improvement of cricket in the Pacific and support of our players developing in the VTCA,” he said.
Joshua Rasu will play at Craigieburn, Nalin Nipiko and Williamsing Nalisa will play at (Doutta Stars, Simpson Obed at West Newport, Steve Sandy at Gellibrand and Darren and Womajo Wotu at Footscray Angliss.
Laffan said but luck it worked out that the players were spread across different grades.
It gives the players a range of opportunities and also gives more cricketers the opportunity to play against cricketers from Vanuatu.
Many of the players haven’t played much red ball cricket before.
‘Gives massive experience we want this, they want it to happen year on year,” Laffan said.
“The talent is there. The island of Port Vila is not too different to the population of Craigieburn and they have the opportunity to play national cricket.”
Laffan, who just happens to be back in Australia at the moment, said the players had taken ownership of their journeys as well and they were excited to experience club land.
“This trip is about giving them the experience and me being here and being able to work with them as well, put in good space going forward.”
