OCTOBER 10, 2022
Prime Minister Hon. James Marape says sports can be a major income-generator for Papua New Guinea through our talented young people.
He said this today (Monday, October 10, 2022) when congratulating the PNG men’s soccer team on winning the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Prime Minister’s Cup in Vanuatu.
Both the PNG men’s and women’s soccer teams, which have done very well on the world stage this year, are supported by the Marape Government.
PNG beat Vanuatu 4-1 in the grand final of a tournament which had teams from the host, Fiji, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and PNG participating.
This follows on from the FIFA World Cup 2022 Oceania Qualifiers final in March in Doha, an event which captivated the whole country, in which PNG was edged out by Solomon Islands 3-2.
“The PNG men’s soccer team has done the country so proud, especially at a time when there is so much negativity,” PM Marape said.
“This follows on from the success of our women’s soccer team in August when they beat Fiji in the OFC Women’s Nations Cup grand final in Fiji, which puts them into the playoff for the Women’s World Cup next year.”
PM Marape said the Government was focused on all sports to develop young people in the country as well as be an income-generator.
“Sports in PNG is not just rugby league but also soccer, basketball, athletics, weightlifting, boxing, rugby union, and all others,” he said.
“Sports comes under the Ministry of Higher Education, headed by Hon. Don Polye, and if properly harnessed can be a career for our talented young people.
“We want to further develop all sports, and I call on administrators of all codes to work with the departments of Education and Higher Education, to ensure that we identify this talent at a very young age.
“Once these youngsters go on to high school, their talent can be developed even further, for a possible sporting career after leaving school.
“PNG already exports our sporting talent overseas, including to Australian and UK rugby league and in various other sports, and my Government wants to promote this further.
“International sporting stars earn big dollars and this is an area that we want to tap into
PM Marape said young PNG sportsmen and women who had left school would also be given opportunities, through their respective sporting codes and Government, to further their education.
The Prime Minister, while in Fiji recently for the Pacific Islands Forum, met the PNG women’s soccer team – many of whom had left school – and told them that they could further their education through the PNG Football Association and Government.
“This is so that when their sporting career is over, they can be productive citizens, because of their education,” he said.