Impressive soccer finale in Tabubil

TABUBIL Soccer Association witnessed a spectacular grand final last Saturday as qualifying teams battled it out in the annual Faiwol Investors Ltd Kusunan Cup challenge.
The grand final, described by many as one of the best in recent years, attracted spectators from as far as Telefomin and Oksapmin in West Sepik.
The battle for the cup started five weeks ago with a record 27 teams participating.
But it came down to the wire with Sakups winning in the women’s grand final and BRB winning in the men’s division.
Association president James So-on said Sakups took out the K1,000 cash prize after they defeated Telefols 1-0 while BRB also collected K1,000 together with the Cup.
BRB edged Telefols 6-5 in a penalty shoot-out to clinch the men’s grand final title.
The runners-up in both the men’s and women’s divisions collected K500 each.
The Kusunan Cup challenge was sponsored by Faiwol Investors Ltd, a local contractor in Tabubil, Western province. The company sponsored the competition with K2,500.
So-on said this year’s competition attracted 27 teams in both the men’s and women’s divisions, which was the largest since the competition’s inception in 2008.
He added that the growing number of teams participating in the competition showed the level of interest local people had in soccer.
Faiwol Investors Ltd acting general manager Fabian Fostinus, who officiated at the grand final, said Faiwol recognised soccer as the number one sport played in the local Min area.
The company was committed to helping develop the code within the area.
He thanked the association for staging such a competition which had significantly helped developed a lot of players and clubs over the years.
He added that the company would continue to support Tabubil Soccer Association.
Meanwhile, So-on was satisfied with this year’s competition and thanked his executives, the local communities, teams, players and Faiwol for their support.
He also appealed for a similar support in next year’s competition.
The Kusunan Cup competition was in honour of Leo Kusunan, a former Ok Tedi Mining Ltd employee, who passed away in 2006. 
Kusunan was instrumental in the development of soccer in Tabubil.