Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province:

Director of the PNG National Sports Institute in Goroka Ms. Janet Gimots has praised the successful staging of the SP PNG Hunters and Ipswich Jets trial match on Sunday, 22 February.

Former NRL Manly Warringah Sea Eagles star Moses Mbye taking a selfie with his fans at PNG NSI after the trial match.

Ipswich Jets skipper Blake Lenehen donning a locally made floral wreath passed to him by a fan

“Our venue had a capacity of 5000. There were still more fans who couldn’t get in because we had already reached full capacity even before the match started. “We also had comments from various people from the Hunters Management who were very appreciative of how we managed the event.” Gimots said.
 

She said preparations for the event began a few weeks ahead and staff were on their toes over the past few days to help deliver the event as professionally as we could.

“We have hosted a few international and regional events in our recent and past history and yesterday, we showed again that our venue has the capacity to host more events,” Gimots said.

The Director said the success of the Hunters–Jets trial match strengthens NSI’s case for hosting more regional and international sporting events.

“We have shown that Goroka is not only capable but also eager to welcome elite teams,” she said. “This event opens the door for deeper partnerships with national federations, international clubs, and development programs across the Pacific.”

Ms. Gimots extended her appreciation to the Bintangor Goroka Lahanis Management, EHP Governor’s Office, K92 Mining, SP Brewery, SP PNG Hunters, Security partners (Police, Correctional Services, Defence Force and Black Swan) and the people of Goroka for contributing to a safe and memorable event.

Local boy & PNG NRL Bid Goroka talent Hercules Kondo made his debut for the SP PNG Hunters during the trial match against the Ipswich Jets

PNG Hunters electric fullback Sani Wabo posing for a photo with his fans at PNG NSI.

She thanked the EHP Governor Hon. Simon Sia for facilitating and funding the upgrade of the venue which enables such major events to be hosted and enjoyed by everyone in the Highlands region.

“The event would not have been a success without the major stakeholders. The energy from the crowd was incredible. Our people showed that they are ready to embrace more events of this scale.
“It also was very exciting to see Jets players mingling with the locals,”
“This match united our communities and reminded us of the important role sport plays in strengthening provincial & national identity.”

“Everyone played their part. The success of this match belongs to all of us,” she said. “We look forward to building on this momentum and welcoming more major events to NSI.”

GOROKA, EHP: Team PNG Athletes to Palau Pacific Mini Games will put all their months of training into action this weekend at the Highlands Open Athletics Championships.

The Athletics PNG Inc. annual event will be hosted at the Papua New Guinea National Sport Institute (PNG NSI) from the 7-8^th of June.

With just two weeks to go before the Mini Games, Championships Coordinator Philip Kamane said the event is likely to be the toughest yet for Team PNG athletes training at PNG NSI.

“This year’s event is likely to be the best and the toughest compared to other years. The best athletes of Athletics PNG, training at NSI will be preparing for the Pacific Mini Games in less than two weeks.”

The inclusion of a team from the NSI’s Athlete Development Program (ADP) is set to have a crack at the national team.

The ADP athletes have also been hard at training and things can turn very interesting over the weekend.

Another team also prepared to spice up the event is a host of top talents identified from the recent EHP Primary Schools festival.

“The team of selected student talents will make up Team Eastern Highlands Primary Schools at the championships. All respective schools have been notified and will send their students athletes this weekend,” Kamane added.

Team PNG’s Para Athlete Steven Abraham conducting a Baton Exchange drill with students from North Goroka Primary School during the EHP Primary School’s Athletics Festival hosted last month at NSI.

NSI ADP Athlete Nathan Kawona leading the pack during the EHP Primary Schools Athletics Festival.

NSI ADP Athlete Ursula Merimba leading the charge in the U16 girls 400m event.

NSI ADP Athlete Damien Kote showing students how to handle a Javel.

The annual event has received interest from as far as Finschhafen District, in Morobe Province and organizers expect that top athletes from Lae will turn up as well.

Kamane said the event was previously known as the Highlands Momase Championships however recently the event has been renamed as more clubs and associations within and beyond the Highlands region have attended.

“This does not however limit teams from outside the Highlands region to participate. As we have noted so far, a team from as far as Gagidu has registered their interest.” Mr. Kamane said.

This year’s event will have the widest selection of participants with divisions starting from the Under 14’s, U16, U18 and Open Division.

Clubs/Associations that have indicated their participation so far are: Gagidu Primary School, Enga Provincial Team, Team Western Highlands, Team Simbu, Team Kerowagi Secondary School, Simbu Athletics Team, NSI ADP Team, Athletics PNG team, Morobe Team and EHP Primary Schools Team.

Team PNG’s Aquila Turalom demonstrates the standing start for the U16 Girls 400m event.

Asaro Primary school students trying their hand out at Javelin.

Team PNG’s Raylyne Kanam assisting with the Jumps event during the EHP Primary Schools Athletics Festival at NSI.

Ends//……………

Rexford Viyufa, a Gold medalist at the recent Pacific Games in Solomon Islands was one of 15 athletes selected for the Goroka Hub to attend the program. The Team PNG HERO’s program is the signature Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee (PNGOC) Athlete Ambassador program that reflects PNGOC’s core values of Honesty, Excellence, Respect and Openness.

Benny said that at first things were a bit confusing for Rexford but as time progressed he began to understand the concept.

“As soon as he understood the content of the program, he began to participate. He expressed his excitement to be part of the program,” Benny said.

PNG NSI Director Janet Gimots who officially closed the program on the 30th of March was pleased with how the program turned out.

She said the Goroka hub possibly had the biggest attendees.

“This is a very good program to involve all athletes. Most of the times, when athletes retire they have nothing to fall back on. With this program, they have something to do when they retire.” Gimots said.

She challenged the participants to be do their best under the program because there are kids who look up to them.

Rexford is the younger brother of former Pacific and PNG champion Jack Viyufa.

A host of PNG’s rising talents have signed contracts to train with the Papua New Guinea National Sporting Institute under their Athlete Development Program.

Since 2019, the NSI has been on a drive to identify and train rising talent in PNG.

Some of the talents they have raised have gone on to represent the country with pride and also receive scholarship to study overseas. 

Addressing their parents yesterday, NSI Director Janet Gimots said the program has had its challenges and successes.

“Athletes who have been selected are privileged to be part of the program. Whilst we celebrate the success, we also acknowledge the challenges faced when implementing the program.”

Director Gimots said the program places equal emphasis on Education and Training so the athletes have something to fall back on when they retire.

When making a reference to previous recipients who have now gone on to study and train in colleges in the US, Ms. Gimots said.

“Also in the US, you can’t represent your college if you don’t have the required GPA. So we are giving you the opportunity to build your foundation in Education to prepare you for opportunities overseas.”

“One of the challenges is funding and I have appealed to the parents to support with fundraising activities where possible.”

Michelle Baru, whose daughter Tamara is one of the lucky ones to be selected for the ADP Scholarship said she wasn’t aware that such a program existed until her daughter became involved.

“It’s a new thing for me and I am not a sports person at all but I am very supportive of Tamara’s interest and will support any way I can,” Baru said.

ADP 2025 athletes are: Tamara Baru (Long Jump) Merna Martins (sprints), Micah Gaisane (sprints), Damien Kote (Javelin), Marykate Pais (Middle Distance), Bradford Hollie (Sprints), Danny Warkit (sprints), Nathan Kawona (Middle Distance), Joy Teiba (Sprints), and Japhet Wilson (Sprints).

The ADP is an initiative by the NSI under the Talent Identification & Development (TIDP) “Catch Them young” slogan. The young potential athletes, are identified from various competitions, such as the school’s carnivals, or festivals, regional and national championships. Potential athletes are offered a residential scholarship to train under qualified coaches and be exposed to high level of training and competition, at the same time continue their education. The ADP fosters partnership with the national federations, to ensure there is pathway for athletes to hopefully represent the country. The sport of Athletics was chosen to start the program and create a good relationship and partnership with Athletics PNG.

The program emphasizes strongly on both education and training and both areas are given equal priority with additional life-long skills and values including extra curriculum in sport and exercise science, drugs in sport and mental health.

The program is now into its fifth year since its inception in 2019, the number of athletes, has grown each year and now a total of twelve athletes. Most of the athletes have gone on to represent the country and other success stories in this program is that we have six athletes who received scholarships to study and train in the US and Australia.

After a long hiatus, Athletics PNG INC. is now hosting a World Athletics Coaches Education Certification System (CECS) Level 1.

28 participants from around the country are at the PNG National Sports Institute to attend the week-long course.

The last time a program like this was held was in 2001 according to workshop co-facilitator Philip Kamane.

Among the participants are athletes who recently competed in Benjamin Aliel, Rellie Kaputin, and Karo Igo including former champions in Wala Gime, Sapolai Yao, Angela Way, Debbie Kaore, Nelson Stone and Subul Babo.

The course is run by Team PNG Athletics Head Coach Brett Green.

The National Sports Institute (NSI), a Division of the PNG Sports Foundation (PNGSF), is pleased to announce the successful handover of a new Toyota Ten Seater and six mobile tower lights to the Institute. These valuable items were generously provided by PNGSF, symbolizing their continued commitment to enhancing sports infrastructure and support in Papua New Guinea.

The ceremony, held at the NSI campus, saw the presence of PNGSF Finance and Admin Officer, Mr. Winston Nelson, alongside other esteemed officers from the Foundation. They were warmly received by NSI Director, Ms. Janet Gimots, and her dedicated team.

In his address, Mr. Nelson emphasized the significance of these contributions, highlighting that the new vehicle and lighting systems are integral to the effective implementation and smooth running of PNGSF’s programs and community engagement at the Institute. Mr. Nelson stated that “These items are not just tools; they are enablers of progress, designed to facilitate our sports initiatives and ensure that our programs, athletes and staff have the resources they need to excel.”

Ms. Gimots, in her heartfelt word of thanks, expressed profound gratitude on behalf of the National Sports Institute. “We are deeply appreciative of the PNG Sports Foundation’s generosity. The Toyota Ten Seater will greatly enhance our mobility and logistics, while the lighting systems will improve our facilities, making them safer and more efficient. We commit to utilizing these resources responsibly and ensuring they are well-maintained to serve our programs for years to come,” she remarked.

This handover marks a significant step in bolstering the capabilities of the NSI, ensuring that it continues to be a leading center for sports excellence in Papua New Guinea. The NSI community looks forward to seeing the positive impact these new resources will bring to their programs and activities. The Institute wishes to sincerely thank the PNG Sports Foundation, and especially the outgoing CEO Mr. Albert Veratau, for their unwavering support and dedication to the development of sports in our country.

The Human Movement Studies (HMS) section has for the first time in almost 14 years registered its first intakes of students into the Bachelor of Education in Physical Education program. This program exists in partnership with the School of Science & Technology (SOST), University of Goroka (UOG). The SOST is where the NSI sits alongside other Divisions. This program endeavors to bridge the gap that exists in schools in the teaching and learning of physical education

Students have so been enrolled into the program, interestingly, 14 students in total for this academic year 2024. These students have also registered for Mathematics and Physical Sciences (Physics/Chemistry) courses respectively who form combinations for our PE students. By the second year, we will stream them into either one of those combinations so by the time they complete, we will graduate them as either PE/Math or PE/Science students for both High Schools (Gr.9 & 10) and Senior High School (Gr.11 & 12).

The process to enrolling our prospecting students has been long and tedious. Our next step is to ensure that we receive full accreditation from DHERST so we can attract 20 scholarships through its TESAS scheme. We anticipate that we can complete this by September this year before the Grade 12 School Leaver Forms go out for Admission (UOG) in 2025. The HMS section has all three staff involved in the program; two actively teaching courses while the other runs all the administration for program delivery for this year. Two PE courses are on offer for our 14 students this semester one. Mr Smith is lecturing in Fundamental Human Movements, while Ms Martins is teaching Foundations of Physical Education this semester.

We acknowledge the support of the Mathematics and Physical Sciences Divisions of the SOST, and especially the Dean of the School, Dr De Britto who has been the driving force behind the Director NSI and Acting HOD HMS in realizing this milestone. HMS is grateful as well to the Office of the Director, NSI and Office of the CEO, PNG Sports Foundation (PNGSF) for the continuous support to the section in facilitating the program.

The National Sports Institute (NSI) Athlete Development Program (ADP) has made remarkable progress since its inception in 2020, now marking its fourth year. What began with just four athletes has expanded significantly, with a current total of fifteen athletes benefiting from the program. Notably, two of the program’s pioneering athletes are currently on scholarships, pursuing training and education in the United States of America (USA).

The 2024 activities for the program have already started and athletes are hard at training. As the program also emphasizes on Education, athletes are continuing to pursue their education in various institutions. The following are athletes in the program;

1. Timothy Tuna
2. Micah Gaisane
3. Bradford Holie
4. Lot Samare
5. Damien Kote
6. Joy Tieba
7. Alphonse Igish (in the USA)
8. Jonathan Dende (in the USA)
9. Judy Mitchell
10. Pais Wisil (Queensland, Australia)

The targeted competitions for 2024 include;

• Oceania Athletics Championships (FIJI)
• Regional Athletics Championships (Highlands Momase, NGI & Southern)
• National Athletics Championships (Port Moresby)
• Olympic Games (Paris)
• World Under 20 Championship (Lima, Peru)

Since its establishment in 1979, the National Sports Institute (NSI) has stood as a beacon for sports development in Papua New Guinea. Over the years, the Institute has nurtured countless athletes, sports administrators, and sporting events providing them with the necessary training and facilities to excel in their respective disciplines. Among these facilities, the grandstand has served as a symbolic centerpiece, witnessing the triumphs and challenges of PNG’s sporting journey. However, after decades of use, the grandstand was in dire need of renovation to meet modern standards and accommodate the growing needs of athletes and spectators alike.

In a visionary move, the Eastern Highlands Province Governor, Hon. Simon Sia, initiated the grandstand renovation project to revitalize this vital part of the Institute. The project, which began under his leadership, is slated for completion by April 2024, marking a significant milestone in the Institute’s history.

The renovation of the grandstand is part of a larger effort by the Papua New Guinea Sports Foundation (PNGSF) to modernize the Institute’s infrastructure. This comprehensive renovation project encompasses all aspects of the grandstand, including the seating area, facilities, and amenities. The goal is to create a state-of-the-art facility that not only meets international standards but also provides a comfortable and enjoyable experience for spectators. This is also timely as the Institute is embarking on establishing a Sports TAFE College, which requires quality facilities for its programs. One of the key focuses of the renovation is the improvement of the seating area. The old grandstand, with its aging structure and outdated facilities, no longer provided the level of comfort and safety expected in a modern sporting venue. The new design incorporates ergonomic seating arrangements, improved sightlines, and enhanced accessibility, ensuring that spectators can enjoy the action in comfort and style.

This renovation project balances upgrades to other facilities within the Institute. This includes the refurbishment of dormitories, kitchenette, mess hall, gymnasium, and outdoor courts, ensuring that athletes have access to top-notch facilities to support their training and development.

The Institute under PNGSF is very grateful for the support of Governor Hon. Simon Sia, the Eastern Highlands Provincial Government and the people of Eastern Highlands. Their commitment to support sport development and their vision to improve the Institute’s facilities to cater for the increasing demand to host sporting and non-sporting events in the province is realized in this project. The Institute pledge to take care of the renovated facility, ensuring that it remains a symbol of excellence and a hub for sporting activities in Papua New Guinea.

In conclusion, the renovation of the grandstand at the National Sports Institute is a testament to the ongoing commitment to sports development in Papua New Guinea. It represents a significant step forward in modernizing the institute’s infrastructure and providing athletes and spectators with world-class facilities. With the completion of this project, the NSI is poised to continue its legacy of excellence and nurture the next generation of sporting talent in the country