Guruf soccer tournament aims to raise funds for church

Sports

By LARRY ANDREW
A WEEK-LONG soccer tournament was launched at Guruf village in the Onga Waffa local-level government area on Monday to help raise funds for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea’s (ELCPNG) Guruf Parish building project.
The Garam Gaung tournament has attracted 34 men’s and six women’s teams from across Leron Wantoat, Umi Atzera and Onga Waffa.
The men’s division has eight pools with four teams each in Pools A, B, C, D, E and F while Pools G and H have five sides each.
Tournament director Kima Paul Kilau said the initiative was aimed at raising funds to finish the incomplete building.
“We had to toil to complete the building, but fell short due to funding,” Kilau said.
“We need funds to complete the building.
“The tournament will help us complete the building.
“The tournament is not about winning but creating an atmosphere of good sportsmanship.
“So we must accept the decisions of match officials.”
Morobe community development programme adviser Kiun Kimbing said: “To host the tournament with such a large number of teams is huge, so discipline and respect is paramount for such tournament to be held in the future.
“Play in the spirit of true sportsmanship and finish the tournament on a good note so that everyone is satisfied at the end of the day.
“We want to establish a partnership with the church, communities and individuals to help complete the building.
“This is the reason such occasion has come up through sports.”
“I acknowledge the organisers in putting the tournament in place.”
ELCPNG Guruf parish president Liven Joseph said tournaments were an avenue to create and foster relations between players and teams.