Innovative approach for a better life

By ROBINSON LEKA
THE I Can Sports Trademark is a nationally-owned business that has incorporated sporting activities and programmes to address a range of issues affecting communities around the country.
Founded in 2017, I Can Sports Trademark follows the motto of, “If I can do it, you can” with an emphasis on fostering emotional intelligence for a more productive way of life.
Trademark founder and managing director Andrew Hama shared his experience of how the idea of I Can Sports was born in 2012 all the way to the successful staging of its first ever sponsored tournament in Mimanalo in Eastern Highlands.
“The idea of ‘I Can’ was born in Noida, New Delhi, India, in 2012 when I was there to do business studies,” he told The National.
“I got that piece during a session with one of my Indian professors who highlighted the importance of ‘I Can’ which he said was better than IQ (intelligence quotient).
“The professor stressed and I can still remember him saying that people with well-developed emotional skills are more likely to be content and effective in their lives, mastering the habits of the mind that foster their own productivity.
“On the other hand people who cannot marshal some control over their emotional life fight battles that sabotage their ability for focused work and clear thought.
“It also links to emotional intelligence and it should be seen as a model of well-being and high performance, based on knowing yourself, connecting with others, handling stressful situations and making better decisions.
“It’s also about understanding what makes you feel good, rather than just what you’re good at so it shouldn’t be confused with competency.
“The session with the professor cleared some of my dark and confused self and brought light into my human mind and since then I started to build a special interest around the thought that I can is better than IQ.
“I parked the topic at the back of my mind in India and I promised myself that I would unpack it and do some work on the topic when I return to Papua New Guinea,” said Hama.
Following his return from India, he spent the next five years extending his research into the subject of I Can is better than IQ before officially registering his sports trademark as a business in 2017.
He also successfully got his trademark approved by the Intellectual Property Office of Papua New Guinea along with his ownership certificate which has a lifespan of 10 years.
The next challenge for Hama was integrating the idea of I Can into communities in the country and the solution was using sports.
Challenging at first
“It was challenging at the initial stage on how best to integrate the trademark name to address some of PNG’s key development issues and problems affecting our families and communities.
“Through careful thought given to the best tool to drive the trademark and whilst considering ‘I can’ as an empowering and motivational word that in ways links to encouraging positivity based on a platform of clarified life values, I chose to connect the trademark with sports.
“The purpose of the trademark is to promote sport role modelling and sporting excellence.
“In terms of promoting sport role modelling in PNG we intend to connect the Trademark name, logo and motto with PNG’s sports champions and gold medallists to drive awareness and education on social media and other platforms to promote healthy lifestyles and healthy eating to address lifestyle diseases in the country.
“In terms of promoting sporting excellence we intend to create support programmes for young PNG sports men and women by working in partnership with PNG Sports Foundation and the PNG Olympic Committee.”
Following years of planning and preparation, the trademark officially rolled out its first ever sponsored tournament at Mimanalo, Goroka, Eastern Highlands in December.
The Lower Mimanalo rugby tournament was staged at the Rothmans Oval in Goroka in December and was officially completed in January this year.
The tournament was part of the trademark’s community service obligation with support from the National Gaming Control Board and the office of the Prime Minister given to the people of Lower Mimanalo in Goroka.
The tournament saw a total of 12 men’s teams compete over four weekends of matches with Kamayufa Gamukes and Hegu Brothers making the inaugural tournament’s grand final.
The Gamukes came out victorious in the final following a 7-4 win over the Brothers bringing a close to the I Can Sports tournament.
“We had to put sponsorship support into that particular community as I Can Sports Trademark footprint because the area lacked decent and proper sports funding support since Rothmans cigarette company closed down its operations many years ago,” said Hama.
“The Rothmans rugby league field was the home of the Cambridge Country rugby league club sponsored by Rothmans ompany who participated in the Goroka town competition.
“Rothmans rugby field was the training ground and a backyard playing field for some famous Lahanis and Kumuls such as John Joseph, Petrus Bankoma, Andrew Markham, Billy Gotuno, David Buko and many more who have made it to Lahanis and some as far as PNG Kumuls.
“The tournament is a first of its kind for the people lower Mimanalo community and I’m happy at how they’ve embraced our trademark and its goal in addressing healthy lifestyles and healthy diets and to create an enabling environment to expose young rural rugby league talents,” Hama said.
Following the end of the tournament in Mimanalo, the I Can Sports team is now preparing for a workshop next month with sports champions and gold medallists.
The workshop will focus on how athletes can be utilised towards addressing some of the country’s development issues and problems as leaders in sports.
“They will be given forms to fill during the workshop to register their interest to support I Can Sports vision as sports role models.
“They will be used to promote role modelling in sports, sporting excellence and healthy lifestyles by encouraging our target audience of youths to engage in physical activities, exercise, playing sport to live healthy and longer.”