Four clubs in Jiwaka receive uniforms worth K6,000

A TOTAL of 68 sets of jerseys were presented over the weekend to four clubs that are taking part in a rugby league competition in Kindeng, Jiwaka. KMF Warriors, KMC Raiders, KSV Titans and Kelkie Roosters received their team uniforms, which cost around K6,300 in total. Sponsor Pauline Woti, founder of the local community’s only flexible learning centre, and her husband, John Woti, presented the jerseys to the teams at Dusty, Kindeng, on Sunday. Inspired by the rise of Papua New Guinea LNG Kumul Justin Olam in Australia’s National Rugby League, Pauline said the jerseys would boost the morale of the players and lift the standard of the game in Kindeng. “Most of the players are between the ages of 17 to 20 years old and they are also schooling, so we want to implement the idea of ‘play hard and school hard’,” the community leader said.  “We want them to feel motivated when they wear the jerseys and play.  “We have heard the story of Olam and how he was raised in the village. “Through school, he went on to study in one of the country’s top universities. Through rugby league, he’s living his dream in Australia. That is what we want to instil in these young men in the villages. “You see Olam and the Hunters players, they come from community leagues and because school gave them the pathway to go into the city, it made it easy for them to secure rugby league contracts.” Pauline said they were only supporting them with jerseys, but she applauded the other community leaders who established the competition to keep youths away from drugs and alcohol. “It is a positive sign for the community moving forward,” she said.  “I appreciate what the leaders of our community are doing in allowing young people, especially men, to take part in such activities.  “This helps them to focus on their health and wellbeing.”