Nandex gets his due for a life dedicated to sport

PAPUA New Guinea’s kickboxing hero, Stanley “the Headhunter” Nandex added another award to his name, this time receiving the Member of the Order of Logohu (ML) award for his services to sports particularly through his involvement as a world champion competitor and the promoter of the  martial art of kickboxing.
The local son of Erave grew up in Yanguli village in the Southern Highlands and strove to be where he is now despite not completing his education.
“It’s through hard work, sheer determination, discipline and faith in myself and the good Lord above that made me who I am today,” Nandex said.
“I take this award as a positive sign that what I am doing at the moment is on the right track.”
Nandex also won the Sports Administrator of the Year award in this year’s SP Sports Awards.
Nandex has also won several SP Sports Man of the Year awards on the same premier event in the sporting calendar.
After retiring from competitive kickboxing four years ago Nandex continued to run tournaments and programmes for youths to get involved in the sport.
Nandex was also instrumental in setting up the Southern Highlands Community Empowerment Foundation (SHCEF) which has given youth in his province  a chance to pursue their interests in a wide range of sports.
Nandex, who was planning to stage Christmas sporting activities in his home district was a happy man when he was called to Port Moresby to receive the Logohu award.
In other news, Nandex was also given K5,000 to go towards the Christmas games.
The money was presented by Aku Lodge to run the sporting activities.
Aku Lodge general manager Keith Akane presented a cheque on behalf of the director Komeali Kapo Ropa.
Nandex thanked Ropa for the kind support saying he was looking forward to continuing SHCEF programmes of developing youth through sport and other activities.