Digicel Cup franchise acknowledges sponsorship of Bintangor, Sia

THE Goroka Lahanis have thanked franchise owner and Bintangor Trading managing director Simon Sia for continuing to support the Digicel Cup team.
Lahanis team manager Benji Filele told The National yesterday that the 2021 Digicel Cup season would be the 15th-straight season under the ownership of Bintangor.
The Eastern Highlands flagship has been to four grand finals and has won three premierships in Papua New Guinea’s premier inter-city rugby league competition since Bintangor took over in 2007.
“Bintangor and Sia have consistently supported the Lahanis since 2007 and we thank them for the assistance,” Filele said.
“They have faced challenges at the times.
“But despite that, Sia has never failed the Lahanis.
“Eastern Highlanders are rugby league-mad people and the Goroka Lahanis are their pride.
“The team have a colourful history and they represent the people.
“Sia is also a passionate man who has so much pride for the team.
“He knows what the Lahanis mean to the people of the province and we thank him for backing the team every year.”
The Lahanis’ first premiership under Bintangor was in 2010 when they defeated the Mendi Muruks 21-10 in the grand final at the Lae Rugby League Ground.
In 2011, when Digicel took over as the competition’s major sponsor, the Lahanis recorded their second-straight title with a 20-10 win over the Rabaul Gurias at the old Loyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby.
Two years later, the Bintangor-sponsored side were runners-up to Port Moresby Vipers after they lost 14-36.
The Lahanis’ most recent success was in the 2018 grand final where they defeated the Enga Mioks 10-6 at the Oil Search National Football Stadium.