Photo Credit: Cricket PNG
As the Barramundis prepare to leave our shores for their historic ICC T20 World Cup debut on the 17th of October their assistant coach John Ovia, a former Barra from Hanuabada is close to realising a boyhood dream.
John remembers watching the World Cup semi final in 1996 with his father “ we were watching the game between Australia and West Indies, Dad was cheering for the West Indies, I wanted Australia to win. The final was very tense, but Australia fought back to win the game, my Dad didn’t talk to me for a while after the match but that was when I first dreamt of playing in a World Cup”
A very talented right-hand batsman, Ovia started his cricket at Kempa CC then moved to Poreporena CC to enhance his chances of being selected for the Barramundi’s. He has represented PNG with distinction from 1995 through to 2009 and even had the honour of captaining the Barramundis in one game. He has played in the national colours against countries from all over the world having a highest score of 150 against our pacific neighbours, Samoa and “too many fifties to remember”
He shared the field with many Barra legends during his time but rated Jamie Brazier as the best batsman he played with and Rarua Dikana as the best bowler and Captain. In terms of games, he recalls a match against Italy where without a couple of key players the Barras rallied to win the game. “My coach said today is your day John to win this game, we eventually won six wickets down chasing around 200, I was still at the crease on 70 odd when we scored the winning runs. I came off the ground in tears, I was so proud and happy for my country.”
John Ovia’s coaching career started in 2008 and he has been a constant in the Cricket PNG High Performance Department ever since. Now as the most qualified active coach in PNG, John plays a pivotal role in partnership with National Head Coach Carl Sandri and the consultant coaches, like Chadd Sayers who has been brought in as a specialist bowling coach.
“ I have worked with a lot of coaches in my time, I enjoy working with them, I learn a lot from their experience, and it is part of my role to help the players understand and commit to the processes they put in place. They are all different in their coaching styles, Dipak Patel was a smart, skilful cricketer, with a relaxed coaching style , Joe Dawes brought professionalism, work ethic and belief and now I’m enjoying working with Carl Sandri who is very positive, he has fitted in very well, the players are responding, and we are looking forward to the World Cup”
Ovia firmly believes the Barras have a good chance at the World Cup “ We have a very good international record in T20, our round one pool includes Scotland and Oman who we are capable of beating, Bangladesh will be the toughest match of our group. I talk to the boys and they are excited; I have not noticed any nerves and they believe in their ability to do well. We have set ourselves to make the super 12 round, then we get to play the likes of Australia and England, who knows, anything is possible in T20 cricket.
On reaching his goal of participating in a World Cup Ovia is immensely proud, “ it is an honour and a privilege to coach this team and to go to a World Cup and represent PNG. We have a very good group of players and coaches that have worked very hard to get here. We also play for all the former Barramundis, coaches and management that have been part of this journey since we became a member of the ICC back in 1973. It is a huge achievement for PNG and now we are here we must work hard to stay at the top”.
The Barramundis leave for an extended tour on the 29th of August, culminating in the ICC T20 World starting mid-October, it will be the longest tour that this squad has ever done. When asked about this tour’s challenges and the sacrifices the players make Ovia said “ it will be tough, it’s a long time away from home but we feel the support from the community. My wife and family have given their blessing and the players’ families are the same, this is important, that we go knowing we have their support and that of the nation too”.The Barramundis continue their preparations at Amini Park with the Isuzu Barras T20 Bash up until the 22nd of August after which they will then say goodbye to their families as they enter a bio secure bubble. This will be the start of the final leg of what was once just a boyhood dream for many of them that will suddenly become a moment etched in history for PNG as they take the field in their first ever ICC T20 World Cup match!
