Golden Kicks ‘series’ picking up momentum

 By JACK AMI

The Golden Kicks series is picking up momentum as more taekwondo clubs are starting to embrace the new concept.

Promoter and tournament director Jamuga Stone believes this is a step in the right direction to uncover and nuture raw talent from rural centres. 

Challenge 4 was staged over Oct 5-6 in Port Moresby and saw some exciting fights.

Some of the fighters who stood out were Steven Amos, Jordan Lorawai, Dauba Dauba, Luke Benjamin (Stones);  Mou Varo, Billy Numa, Ruden Kila (Galemarubu); Paul Mona, Airi Degure (Sirinumu); Bethel Ata, Peter Koli, Tuksy Tom (NCD) and  Sebastine Alewa (Alewai).

Stone was excited to see clubs like Sogeri, Galomorubu, Motu Koitabu, Stones, NCD, Goldie and Alewai taking part in Challenge 4. 

The Golden Kicks series theme is “Stay strong – Kicks Drugs Out of PNG”.

Stone said to add international flavour to the series, teams from New South Wales and Cairns in Australia, Suva, Fiji and Honiara, Solomon Islands, had been invited to attend Challenge 7 in December. 

An elite NCD team will be selected to challenge those teams. 

From the Golden Kicks challenges a NCD train-on squad will be selected for the NSW State Championships in November, Brothers International Championship in Arizona, USA, in March and the 6th PNG Games in Lae.  

Stone said Taekwondo PNG should embrace this new concept to lift its national athletes to a new level of fitness and skills.

He will encourage national team members to take part in the Golden Kicks challenge.