Cricket PNG partners with Trukai for VPL

CRICKET Papua New Guinea has secured Trukai Industries Limited as the major sponsor of this year’s Village Premier League.
Initially, this includes both the May edition and the second edition planned for November.
The sponsorship ensures that the league will build on the success of the first edition last year, where Wanderers Curries Team claimed the K10,000 first prize.
Thanks to Trukai, the first prize this year has doubled to K20,000.
“We believe that this sponsorship will allow us to diversify outside of our traditional sporting sponsorships,” Trukai Industries chief executive Alan Preston said.
“Although cricket is as not as popular as rugby league in PNG, we understand it is growing amongst the younger demographic, with significant female participation, through the multiple development programmes that Cricket PNG runs.
“The 2022 Trukai Village Premier League is the start of our partnership, and we are looking forward to discussing how we can further support the development programmes.”
Cricket PNG general manager Tony Naidu said: “From the moment we finished the 2021 season, we have been working to make the 2022 Trukai Village Premier League a reality.
“We felt from the start that Trukai would be the best long-term partner for the league.
“Trukai is a premium brand for the people.
“This is our premier league which reaches our villages.”
Each team has a spending limit of K2,000 to buy 13 players in the draft, which includes over 150 nominated players for only 78 places available.