Kimil league founder Pau eyes K100,000 modern facility

KIMIL Rugby League (KRL) founder Michael Tee Pau is aiming to build a modern facility at the local field in a bid to lift the standard of the sport.
“My aim is to build a facility here like the Moresby South Stadium,” he said of the league in North Waghi, Jiwaka.
“I would call it a dream facility in a rural set-up.
“This is to help the league set standards at the grassroots level.
“Rural players, sponsors, supporters and fans must experience top-quality football and professionalism here.
“What prompted me to consider such a plan is because of the growing interest to host matches like the Jiwaka Governor’s Cup and Coca-Cola Ipatas Cup (CCIC) here.
“There is also an increase in the number of teams participating in the local competitions.
“The environment that we created here is friendly and peaceful – that is also a factor.”
Pau has explored his options with an architect now working on a simple and convenient structural design that would cost around K100,000.
Pau envisions a facility that can accommodate more than 5,000 people with good fencing, entry and exit points, stands, and dressing rooms for players and match officials.
The 42-year-old accountant and managing director of Ngekon Security Services, a subsidiary of OK Corporation Ltd, is a firm believer of rugby league as a vehicle to drive change.
“There are many issues in communities around the country,” Pau said.
“Law and order problems give us a lot of headache.
“Youths cause a lot of social disorder.
“I thought of a plan to involve youths and the idea of developing rugby league struck me.
“Rugby league is the best rescue package for youths who take drugs, consume alcohol and get involved in tribal fights.
“In 2012-13, we had the OK Raiders competing in the Banz league.
“There was one time where our players got involved in a fight with another team at the Banz rugby field and there were so many teams there.
“I asked myself ‘why not have our own league, especially for the people of the five council wards of the Kulaka and Opei tribes in the western end of North Waghi?’.”
Pau had already gained ample knowledge about rugby league due to his involvement with the Raiders, sponsoring them to compete in the CCIC.
“Our training ground was the Kimil school field – we never had a proper one,” he said.
In 2014, Pau funded the registration of the league as an affiliate of the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League.
Following the registration of KRL, the need for a proper rugby league field arose, so Pau removed about 27 blocks of his matured coffee trees and began construction.
The field took shape the following year (2015) and it became the Raiders’ home.
In 2016, Jiwaka Governor Dr William Tongamp gave KRL the privilege to host the first Jiwaka Governor’s Cup western end challenge, marking the field’s first official use.
“My main objective was to assist youths from the Opei and Kulaka tribes as well as our neighbours from Prandka,” Pau said.
“I saw rugby league as a vehicle to drive change.

“ We must ensure that young players have hope in rugby league, starting in the rural areas.”

“This is KRL’s eighth anniversary and I can say that the lives of our young men from the Kulaka, Opei and Prandka tribes have changed for the better.”
Kimil 1 ward member and Banz local-level government president David Kumb is one admirer of KRL.
“Kimil is now the most peaceful place,” Kumb said.
“Rugby league has transformed our people. I thank Michael for the initiative which is promoting positive mindsets.”
The field can accommodate a crowd of around 3,000 people.
Pastor Mathias Koim, from Bunum Wo, echoed similar sentiments and applauded Pau for being an exceptional administrator.
“For big matches like the CCIC Jiwaka and Western Highlands pool playoffs to be played here followed by the 2021 Jiwaka Governor’s Cup western end challenge is an indication that KRL is managed well and has earned everyone’s trust,” Koim said.
Kimil 2 councillor Robert Mong also made positive remarks.
“KRL is now exporting players to the Digicel Cup,” Mong said.
“Former SP Hunter Joe Frank is a product of KRL.
“KRL has also produced players like Gene Markham, Saki Peter, Francis Sam, Ezekiel Karl, Brian Kirpe and Steven Pat.
“We are proud of such achievements.
“This is an investment that is bearing fruit.
“We thank Michael for his sacrifices from which many people are benefitting.”
On match days, mothers sell garden produce and stores serve customers in Kimil.
Rugby league brings physical, mental, social and economic benefits.
Pau said he was grateful to Tongamp for having confidence in his management of rugby league.
He also conveyed his appreciation to CCIC patron Sir Peter Ipatas and the organisers for staging the playoffs in Kimil last month.
“This is an isolated area, but it is now being exposed,” Pau said.
“This shows that KRL has a bright future.
“Our investment has not gone to waste.
“We are reaping the rewards.
“One day, we are confident of hosting a Digicel Cup match.”
His appeal to the Government is to push for a bill in Parliament for rugby league to have a separate budget.
“We must ensure that young players have hope in rugby league, starting in the rural areas,” Pau said.
“They must make a career out of rugby league like Australia’s National Rugby League system.”
Kimil has the potential to become the heart of rugby league in Jiwaka, Western Highlands and Chimbu because it stands to gain from multinational companies that are operating in Kimil, Bunum Wo, Sigri, Kondopina and Kindeng.
Kimil is also located in a densely-populated area with a lot of economic potential.
“I want to share my little income with the people especially youths in rugby league,” Pau said.
“I am thankful to our people of Opei, Kulaka and Pranka for their undivided support.
“If the Government is serious about addressing law and order issues in the country then it has to get youths involved in rugby league, starting at the rural level.
“The Government must ensure that players have hope and security in the game.
“They must see a future in it.”