Sepik Pride bid raises K250,000

By JELILAH KUM
THE Sepik Pride’s Digicel Cup bid received a major boost when they raised more than K250,000 from a fundraising dinner in Port Moresby on Saturday.
“It’s not easy to get a team into the Digicel Cup,” project manager Bradley Simon said.
“But if you are passionate about something, you will achieve it.
“Yes, rugby league is a sport but it can also be used as a tool for human development.”
He encouraged the Sepik community around the country to continue supporting their cause to gain Digicel Cup inclusion next year.
East Sepik Governor Allan Bird commended Simon for his passion and commitment to the bid.
“If we can give responsibilities to young people and they deliver things like this, I think the future looks good,” he said.
“Young people have a lot of energy and if we don’t direct them or provide pathways for them, they’ll end up doing the wrong thing.”
Bird said sports were an educational tool.
“I want this to be an example to people in Wewak that if you demonstrate passion, leadership, commitment and practise the principals of good governance then I will support you,” he said.
Sepik and Oro parliamentarians attended the dinner along with Goilala MP William Samb and Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) chairman Sandis Tsaka.
PNGRFL director Graham Osborne helped auction the jerseys of rugby league legends.
Richard Wagambie’s 1992 Kumuls jersey and a signed PNG jersey was auctioned for K10,000 each and Arnold Krewanty’s Newcastle Knights jersey was auctioned for K2,400.