New head for junior comp

PAPUA New Guinea Kumuls and SP Hunters team manager Arnold Krewanty is the new head of the Coca-Cola Amatil (PNG) Limited National Schools Rugby League.
Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League chief executive Reatau Rau made the announcement yesterday at the signing of a five-year agreement with Coca-Cola Amatil (PNG) Limited as the naming rights sponsor of the National Schools Rugby League.
Rau said former Kumuls and Newcastle Knights player Krewanty joined the PNGRFL in 2012 as part of the NRL Bid programme.
“In 2013, he was appointed game development manager,” he said.
“He became the first team manager of the PNG Hunters when they entered the Queensland Intrust Super Cup competition in 2014.”
Rau said the investment by Coca-Cola Amatil (PNG) Ltd and other partners in junior development was crucial for the growth of the game in the country.
“We must establish this foundation and we have every confidence in you to meet the challenges that lay ahead in 2019 and beyond to develop this pathway for our juniors,” Rau said.
Krewanty said it was an honour to be appointed manager of the National Schools Rugby League.
“Many other former Kumuls and I came through the schools programme in the 1970s,” he said.
“It was exciting to be a student in those days because we played sports if we went to school.”
According to Krewanty, youngsters who want to participate in the programme must attend school.
Krewanty said registration forms and other necessary documents would be prepared and sent to schools as soon as the academic year begins.
“We want to make sure that the proper processes and requirements are met before schools begin the competition,” he said.
Krewanty thanked PNGRFL for his appointment.
“I will give it every ounce of energy and commitment to ensure the Coca-Cola National Schools Rugby League programme produces not only a pathway for good rugby league players but good, educated citizens of PNG,” he said.
“I thank Coca-Cola for the investment and I would like to assure you all that this is the start of an exciting journey for every Papua New Guinean child.”