NGCB reaffirms its support for PNGRFL

THE National Gaming Control Board (NGCB) is continuing its sponsorship of the Papua New Guinea Kumuls and SP Hunters as part of their ongoing support for rugby league in the country.
PNG Rugby Football League chairman Sandis Tsaka yesterday acknowledged the Government through NGCB for its support in the last seven years which has seen significant progress in rugby league.
“They were inaugural partners at the World Cup in 2013 and for the last six years, they’ve continued to support and invest very heavily in the sport — nearing seven years for the Kumuls programme (since 2013) and six (2014) for the Hunters.
“The support in the last seven years has led to a great revolution in the game as we see it today.
“We look forward to growing the game together and we hope that we can continue this partnership so that rugby league can support some of community programmes.”
NGCB chief executive Imelda Agon said the sponsorship for this year would run for a four-month period in which it would be renewable thereafter.
Agon said the major portion of the sponsorship would be for the Kumuls programme, with them also being minor sponsors of the Hunters in the Queensland Intrust Super Cup.
“It’s important that we grow the sport that the country loves,” she said.
“We’ve seen rugby league in the country evolve to changing the lives of young people.
“We’d love to see the sport that most Papua New Guineas love, taken to a whole new level.
“It’s not easy managing organisations like this (PNGRFL) where it depends on sponsorship.
“We are just coming on board to give money and that is the easy part. The hardest part is to build a team that will face other nations.”
NGCB is a platinum sponsor for the Kumuls and have the naming rights to the annual Prime Minister’s 13 match and other programmes and initiatives.