Efforts pay off for Mt Wilhelm league

The National Sports
From left: Highlands Confederate director Joe Tokam presenting the women’s premiership shield to winning captain Susan George in the presence of Mt Wilhelm Tours managing director Tobias Kulang. – Pictures supplied

By ROBINSON LEKA
STRIVING for excellence in the Highlands has paid off for Mt Wilhelm Rugby League following a successful end to its inaugural season earlier this month.
The new league, in Chimbu’s Kundiawa-Gembogl, became one of the latest affiliates to the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) and after four-and-a-half months of competition, the league hosted its men’s, women’s and Under-20 finals.
The league’s inaugural season this year saw eight clubs register with teams coming from two local level governments (LLGs) in Gembogl, Mitnande and Nilkande.
Outside of Gembogl, the competition has attracted players from the Waiye LLG along with a select few from Kundiawa Urban LLG with the league planning to involve more teams within the district.
The finals, at Gembogl Station on Sept 11, saw the Dekomsi Tigers beat the Mt Wilhelm Hawks 7-0 in the U20 final while the women’s final saw the BD Rangers pulling off an upset win (3-2) over the Goglme Panthers.
The men’s final ended in a no-contest match between Goglme Panthers and DK Royals, however, competition administrators added that a decision on the men’s final would be delivered later.
While it may not have been a complete end to all finals, the league’s administration says their affiliation now allows the governing body (PNGRFL) to adjudicate and deliver a decision on the incomplete men’s final.
The journey into establishing and running a recognised competition under the PNGRFL was not an easy task for the young league however it was eye opening experience for the league’s administrator Joe Kumul.
Kumul and his administrative team became the first in the district to adopt and plan for a shortened season of competition which meant taking the league’s data and competition roster electronic.
“Despite the challenges we’ve faced this year, Mt Wilhelm Rugby League has kept to its motto, ‘Highest our Mountain, Highest our Destiny’, this year and we hope to continue this legacy in the years to come,” he said.
“We have plans in place to increase the number of clubs we have in the near future but for now we’re happy with the progress of our competition.
“The whole idea behind getting our competition running and registered under the PNGRFL was to create a pathway for our young players.

“ The whole idea behind getting our competition running and registered under the PNGRFL was to create a pathway for our young players.”
Goglme Panthers Nilka Konk in action against BD Rangers in the Mt Wilhelm Rugby League grand final earlier this month. Despite losing 2-3, the forward has been consistent all season.

“We have talents in our area here but due to the geography of Gembogl most of our players would usually travel a fair distance to go and play in other town competitions so we want this league to be something for them to play in.”
Kumul also made special mention of the competition’s eight pioneer clubs and their supporters in delivering a trouble-free season.
“The real drive behind the hunger to have our own competition comes from all our clubs and their fans who turn up every weekend to support their teams,” he said.
“Without such people, we would not have come this far and not forgetting our administration staff and the league’s board members, who stood firm and led this significant initiative.”
One of the league’s founders and major sponsor Tobias Kulang announced the continuation of support for next year as the league prepares to expand in the district.
Kulang, who is the managing director of Mt Wilhelm Tours, said the sponsorship was aimed at engaging youths in the district in worthwhile activities.
“I’d like to congratulate all the teams this year in our inaugural season and to those respective sides that have won their grand finals for the 2021 season,” he said.
“We will be continuing sponsorship of this competition next year because of the impact it has for the youths in Gembogl.

Mt Wilhelm Rugby League administration staff Pius Small, Boi Druwa and league administrator Joe Kumul during the preparation of the competition draws earlier this year.

“This is a collective effort from everyone to reduce the amount illicit activities that happens throughout our competition.”
Meanwhile, league president Michael Koima was happy with the inaugural season as he welcomed the league’s adoption of the PNGRFL’s New Ireland governance model.
“I have big respect for the board of PNGRFL, its administration staff and I fully understand our situation as one of the newly affiliated leagues in the country,” he said.
“PNGRFL have now set a new direction for leagues in the country that is focused on developing the game right down to the district level which is the best thing for us as a new league.
“I know for sure I have some potential players here in our competition and it’s now up to us to develop and create pathways for them to progress to bigger competitions.”