Western getting behind sports for youth development: Yoto

By ERIC PIET
WESTERN Governor Taboi Awi Yoto, says sports play an important part in youth development and apart from education, local MPs are now walking that path to help raise the profile of the province.
The provincial government has allocated K3.9 million in the 2019 Budget for two major sporting codes — rugby league and soccer — and Team Western for next year’s Papua New Guinea Games in Southern Highlands.
A total of K2 million will go to Western’s participation at the games, K1.8 million to rugby league and K100,000 to soccer.
“After the successful hosting of the North Fly leg of the Coca-Cola Ipatas Cup challenge in Kiunga in December and the regular Kiunga Rugby League and others in the province, I have seen that there is huge passion for the sport and young people are just crazy about it,” Yoto said.
“It is therefore only fitting for us to have the sport accommodated in our annual budget.
“Not only rugby league, we have also considered soccer in our budget.
“I am glad that a Western team (Star Mountain) is competing in the PNG Football Association-sanctioned National Soccer League (NSL) competition this year.
“The team is co-sponsored by Ok Tedi Mine’s camp admin and Mineral Resources Star Mountains Royalty Trust.”
Yoto said the provincial government had prioritised its funding commitment for Team Western’s participation at the 2020 PNG Games given the province did not take part in the last PNG Games in Kimbe, West New Britain.
“This time, we want Western to take part and hopefully bring back some good results,” Yoto said.
“That is why we’ve made a commitment to fund the team’s participation.”