Goma has no regrets about juggling sport and education

**Papua New Guinea Prime Minister’s 13 captain Bernard Goma Jr with his Australian counterpart and Queensland Maroons great Greg Inglis. – Picture supplied**

By PARKER TAMBUA
FORMER Papua New Guinea Prime Minister’s 13 captain Bernard Goma Jr is grateful to finally attain his bachelor’s degree after juggling education and rugby league.
The Mendi Muruks prop has had his education disrupted a number of times due to rugby league but the will to persevere had driven him to complete his University of PNG (UPNG) studies.
Goma graduated last Tuesday with a bachelor of arts, majoring in political science and minoring in public policy management, from UPNG’s school of business administration.
The 27-year-old, from Chimbu and Southern Highlands, told The National on Friday that he had no regrets as he was ecstatic about how far he had come.
“The love for rugby league was too much that it had driven my focus away from studies many times,” said Goma, who was born and raised in Goroka.
“It took me a while to finish my studies because of this.
“It has never been easy. Juggling a sport with education, both requiring time and commitment, was tough.
“But I’m glad I managed to complete my studies despite the challenges.

**Bernard Goma Jr with the PNG PM’s 13 squad in 2016. – QRLpic**

“I’ve always believed in the Bible verse, Jeremiah 1:5, ‘before I was formed, he knew me with plans not to harm me but plans to prosper’.
“That was my greatest drive.
“I started playing in the Digicel Cup in 2015. I made my debut with Gulf Isapea while I was still a UPNG student.
“Since then, I’ve been playing at the semi-professional level till now.”
Goma’s most memorable rugby league highlight was when he captained PNG Prime Minister’s 13 in 2016 against the Greg Inglis-led Australian PM’s 13 at Port Moresby’s Oil Search National Football Stadium.
He played for two seasons with the Isapeas before he joined the Muruks on a year-long stint in 2017.
In 2018, Goma and fellow PNG players David Loko and Bland Abavu had season-long stints with Ipswich Rugby League club, Fessifern Bombers, in Brisbane.
He returned home in 2019 after learning of his late adopted mum who was sick at the time. Unfortunately, she passed away last year.
“Straight after I lost my mother, I decided to quit rugby league for the whole of last year,” Goma said.
“I went back to school. I still had one outstanding course in order to graduate so I committed myself and completed it.
“My mum and dad are my biggest supporters in whatever I do.

Mendi Muruks prop Bernard Goma Jr in action against Central Dabaris in round eight of the Digicel Cup at the Oil Search National Football Stadium in Port Moresby last month. – Nationapic by KENNEDY BANI

“When I first left our family home in Goroka and came to Port Moresby, my parents discouraged me from playing rugby league.
“They told me that my going to Port Moresby was to continue my education.
“But I grew up with a rugby league ball and couldn’t stay away from it.
“I joined a few Port Moresby Rugby Football League clubs. My mum was mad at me when she heard that I was playing.
“A few years later, I captained the PM’s 13 side. My mum couldn’t believe it and my parents had been supportive since then. They allowed me to play but always reminded me that education was my priority.
“I’m happy that I’ve achieved that.”
Goma was also a member of the SP Hunters’ 2016 squad, but he never made his Queensland Intrust Super Cup debut.
Meanwhile, he said his goal this year was to win a premiership with the second-placed Muruks.
“The Muruks represents my mother’s place and I want to help them win a premiership,” Goma said.