PNGSF staff, board give fond farewell to Tsiamalili

PETER Tsiamalili Jr was given a fond farewell on Friday after serving a little under seven years as head of sports in Papua New Guinea.
The outgoing PNG Sports Foundation (PNGSF) executive director was sent off by his staff, PNGSF board members headed by chairman Ian Chow, Sports Vice-Minister Wesley Raminai and past executive directors Iammo Launa and John Kambuou, heads of the national federations as well as friends and family.
Raminai described Tsiamalili’s decision to resign as a “shocking one” and told those gathered at the Taurama Aquatic Centre in Port Moresby, that he had enjoyed a “very good working relationship” with the outgoing executive director, who was barely a year into his third term when he announced his resignation on May 23.
“We had many important initiatives which we were working on for the development of sport in PNG but Tsiamalili has made a decision which is important to him and his family and the good people of Bougainville,” Raminai said of Tsiamalili’s intention to contest the Bougainville presidency in August.
“While PNGSF has lost a vital administrator, the people of Bougainville have gained and it is important for them, to give Tsiamalili an opportunity to serve his people.”
Raminai highlighted an impressive list of international and domestic events that the country had hosted over Tsiamalili’s tenure including the 2015 Pacific Games, 2016 Fifa Under-20 Women’s World Cup, 2018 Oceania Swimming Championships, 2018 Fiba U15 Oceania Championships and the PNG Games (2014 and 2017).
Chow said Tsiamalili was a young leader who was dynamic and knowledgeable, and had “never met anyone as passionate about his job”.
Tsiamalili attributed PNGSF’s successes to the good people around him as well as a progressive board that had recognised the value and need for young Papua New Guineans running the country’s leading sports agency.
“When I first joined in September 2013, I said to everyone that I am as good as the people around me,” he said. “No matter the challenge that we faced, I always had confidence in the people around me.”
Tsiamalili said he had been inspired to take the leap into politics by Raminai’s example and had decided in April that he would commit to it.
He said the experiences and achievements he had over his time had prepared him for the next chapter in his life.
Tsiamalili reminded the PNGSF staff to be proud of their roles and to continue to serve the people and develop sports in the country.
According to Raminai, the appointment of a new executive director would be made by the Public Service Commission in due course.