Kumul legend passes on

The National Sports

By ZACHERY PER
FORMER Papua New Guinea Kumuls captain Bal Numapo passed away in Kundiawa, Chimbu, on the weekend.
It is understood that the 57-year-old succumbed to a stroke at around 11.30am on Saturday.
He collapsed and was rushed to Sir Joseph Nombri Kundiawa General Hospital but was pronounced dead.
On Saturday, Simbu administrator Michael Bal Temai led a team of public servants, relatives and friends to Goroka and brought the casket of the former centre to the Glenrowan Funeral Home.
Numapo had a colourful rugby league career from the 1980s to the early 1990s.
He was the first Papua New Guinean to join a National Rugby League club, the Canterbury Bulldogs.
Numapo captained the Simbu Warriors, Highlands zone team and Kumuls.
In May 1990, he led the Kumuls to a 20-18 win over the visiting Great Britain Lions at Sir Danny Leahy Oval in Goroka.
Former Lions captain Garry Schofield said then that PNG had produced one of the biggest upsets in rugby league.
Thanks to field goals from Numapo and Stanley Haro, history was made in the rugby league world.
On many occasions, Numapo rubbed shoulders with iconic rugby league figures like Mal Maninga, Wally Lewis and Allan Langer.
Born on Jan 1, 1963, at his Oknell village, Numapo hails from the Kimba Kapma tribes of Dumun in the Tabare local-level government area of Sinasina-Yongomugl.
Aside from rugby league, he started his professional career as a district agriculture officer and worked his way up to be the district administrator of Sinasina-Yongomugl.
Numapo served under former Sinasina-Yongomugl MP Jeffery Nape and current office holder Kerenga Kua.
He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in public administration at Divine Word University on March 15.

6 comments

  • Our Condolence to the family, Kimba Kapma tribe and the people of Tabare and SSY of the lose of your son. late Bal Numapo.
    We surely missed a good ambassador and a very down hearted person hard to find in this time.
    On behave of Kaglekunaunaku tribe of Dinga No. 1, we share with you in this time of sorrow and grieve.
    May his Sole Rest in Peace.

  • Condolences to the family. He was a great champion and ambassador of rugby league in PNG.

  • P.N.G rugby league hero and champ rest in peace, you made us proud when you always face big Mal Maninga in the field, PNG & the people of Tabare will still remember , Apo Rest In Peace.

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