Koboni’s colourful memories

 By ROBSON AKIS

COLOURFUL tributes were paid to the founder of Koboni Aussie Rules (now AFL) Club, late Herea Amini, during the Demon’s 50th anniversary Golden Jubilee celebrations at the Grand Palace Restaurant, Gordon, Port Moresby, early this month.

The late Amini from Alukuni, Hood Lagoon, was born on January 27, 1942 at Waro Iruone along the Aroma Coast of Abau District, Central.

He was the fourth in a family of nine, born to Rev Amini La’a and Marama Pama Kupanarigo. 

He attended Raukele LMS School, Hula (Manea Manea) Primary School, Rigo Intermediate School and then Sogeri High School, where he developed his interest in sports — especially in soccer and athletics.

His interest in Aussie Rules came a little later while at Sogeri through the influence of the Australians who taught there. 

He captained the Sogeri Aussie Rules team to its maiden premiership in 1963 and won the Cleland Medal as the best-and-fairest player of the competition in 1964.

Part of his Cleland Medal winning package was to a two-week stint with the Melbourne Demons Football Club in Victoria, Australia, in the same year (1964).

After his return from Australia, Amini decided to form the Koboni Demons Football Club, adopting the colours of the Melbourne Demons in 1965.

Koboni finished at the bottom of the ladder that year to claim the wooden spoon but tremendously rose to prominence in the following year (1966) to make it into the grand final and lost to Port Moresby. 

That was the beginning of the glory years for Koboni.

In 1967, Koboni finished third in the premiership.

Koboni lost the grand final once again to Port Moresby in 1968 before winning the premierships in 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1991* (shared with Wests), 1993, 1994, 1997, 1999* (shared with Wests), 2009 and 2015. 

In its 50 years of existence, Koboni participated in 49 seasons as no competition was held in 2010 due to controversy with the PNG Cricket Board over the use of the Amini Park and the Colts Ground.

Statistically, Koboni has earned 11 wooden spoons, has made it into the finals 36 times, 24 of which were grand final appearances resulting in 17 premierships.

In addition, Koboni has won six Cleland Medals to late Vili Maha in 1971 and 1972, Api Leka in 1975, William Maha in 1978 and 1980 and Raula Veropo in 1989.