AFL PNG’s Niu Kick gets funding

The AFL PNG received a timely boost of K150,000 from Paradise Foods Limited to support its development programmes in the country.
Paradise Foods chief executive officer Michael Shields presented a cheque to AFL PNG director Ekonia Peni at Colts AFL Oval on Saturday.
Dignitaries on ground to witness the presentation were AFL support staffs from Brisbane Australia, AFL Development officers from the other centers in the country who were in the city for a coaching clinic and children from several primary schools who were there to start their Niu Kick progamme.
AFL PNG’s Peni, while receiving the cheque, said the money would help their board to run their AFL Niu Kick programme for children for the next three years.
Peni said K50,000 had already been released for this year and the other K100,000 would be released incrementally over the next two years.
“The Niu Kick programme introduces Australian rules football to children between the ages of five to 16 years giving them the chance to learn the sport and develop their skills in it,” Peni said.
He said AFL covers more than 50, 000 nationawide every year in the country.
“Our target for this year is 75,000 children all across the country and we are thankful that with the help from the Paradise Food we will reach more kids,” Peni said.
“We have Niu Kick programmess in Port Moresby, Lae, Kimbe, Kavieng, Goroka, Kokopo and Mt Hagen that need funding and Paradise Food’s assistance is very much appreciated.
“The money will be used to run programmes in schools and communities in these centres.
“We’re thankful to Paradise Foods for their support.”
“We need this kind of partnership because we have programmes geared to young people.”
CEO Shields said it was a privilege to back sports in the country particularly a code that focused its development activities on children.