New Britain Palm Oil sponsors CICC with K30,000

By NATHAN WOTI
UPNG Journalism Student
COCA-Cola Ipatas Cup (CCIC) patron and Enga Governor Grand Chief Sir Peter Ipatas along with competitions manager Sam Koi received a K30,000 sponsorship from New Britain Palm Oil Limited (NBPOL) at the company’s head office in Port Moresby yesterday.
It is the second time that the company has come on board to sponsor the nationwide offseason rugby league tournament. The company gave K30,000 last year.
Country manager Robert Nilkare acknowledged the Ipatas Cup as the biggest offseason competition and said it had helped so many young people, particularly in rural areas, and NBPOL felt obliged to continue its support of the tournament.
“It’s a fantastic concept and definitely the breeding ground for the SP Hunters to the Queensland Intrust Cup,” he said.
“It is one of the only sporting events that actually has an impact on just about all the provinces in this country and its popularity among grassroots is second to none.”
Nilkare said the professionalism that organisers and officials had shown in managing the competition over the last 18 years was a testament to the success it had bred on and off the field.
He said that was why NBPOL and other sponsors were willing to back the competition.
Nilkare congratulated Sir Peter and said the Enga Governor in his wisdom had appointed the right people to manage the tournament and this had ensured its growth and stature.
NBPOL chief executive officer Jamie Graham said he was excited about the CCIC event that was currently being run and said the company wanted to show their support to see the tournament ended successfully.
“The tournament has become a national institution and because rugby league is our national sport we are delighted to play our part by supporting in whatever way we can,” he said.
Competitions manager Koi thanked the NBPOL for their support and said it would allow them to extend the competition to New Ireland and Bougainville in the next season.