Tinemau one of best Kumul centres, says Duma

By JAMES GUMUNO
PUBLIC Enterprise and State Investments Minister William Duma says former rugby legend David Tinemau was one of the best Kumul centres the country had produced.
The Member for Hagen Open said this during the funeral of the late Tinemau at Reglaimp ceremonial ground outside Mt Hagen last Saturday afternoon. Tinemau, who became a Nazerene Church pastor later and served at Kamaka in Mul-Baiyer, died last Monday at Reglaimp.
Duma said Tinemau was a great rugby league player during the mid 70s and 80s.
“He was the best Kumul centre then. He was strong, solid, well-built and tough,” Duma said.
Duma said Tinemau had many fans throughout the country and he was one of them.
Duma said when Tinemau stepped down from playing rugby, he contributed more to the development of the league at the national level.
He said Tinemau also contribute to the spiritual development of the people in Mul-Baiyer and Hagen districts.
Duma said Tinemau was a role model and urged youths playing rugby to follow his example for their benefit.
Chairman of the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League Sandis Tsaka, who also attended his funeral, said Tinemau was one of the great players produced by the country.
Tsaka, while presenting Tinemau’s jersey to his family, said PNGRFL would remember his contribution to the country as chairman of the selectors of the Kumuls after he quit playing in the 1980s.
He said, Tinemau, from Sinasina Yongomugl district in Chimbu, was one of the 283 Kumul players produced by the country and would be remembered.
Tinemau’s casket was transported to his home district for burial yesterday.