By DALCY LULUA
THE National Fisheries Authority (NFA) has presented a dummy cheque of K100, 000 to Wapenamanda Rugby Football League (WRFL) committee.
The cheque presentation was made by NFA Managing Director Justin Ilakini on Wednesday 27th of September 2023 as part of its community obligation to restore peace in the district.
It was a very significant moment for NFA as the support comes under their rigorous robust Corporate Social Responsibility Program.
“We have been funding a lot of community based- programs and the intention was to touch people’s life from the grassroots level.
“We saw the need to ensure that our people can benefit directly through community-based projects, including other sectors like Health, Education, Churches, and youth,” Mr. Ilakini said.
“Sports is one of the sectors that have been high on our agenda because we see its importance in terms of bringing all the people together and giving it a sense of identity and unity in addressing a lot of problems that we face in our communities and in the country,” he said.
“When we receive this request from the WRFL to support the league, one of the things that really strike us is about unity in addressing the ongoing tribal fight in Enga Province, especially in the Wapenamanda area.
“We saw that it was for a worthy cause and if we can help towards addressing this ongoing problem with- in our people in Enga, I think we are putting the money into good use.”
“We understand that though we came a bit late due to our own internal processes, we decided to sponsor and support this competition.
“We are hoping that the little contribution we make will go a long way in terms of keeping our young boys up in Wapenamanda busy in rugby league,” he added.
“We saw on television how passionate our people when the Austra- lia and Papua New Guinea boys and girls compete themselves in Prime Minister’s XIII last weekend.
“We hope that we see the same kind of passion in Wapenamanda League,” Ilakini said.
“Our people in Wapenamanda came together to start solving those social issues and problems within the communities and we believe that rugby league is one of those options for our young people.”
Ilakini said NFA is proud and honored in contributing to that cause in bringing peace.
“We are happy to be part of a wor- thy cause in contributing to an ongoing problem.”
He calls for other sponsors as well in addressing people’s problems.
“I am making a general call out to also extend a helping hand to our people in this very challenging time to support the government in whatever communities that we may come from.”
Representatives from WRFL thanked PNGFA and its management for the timely support.
They said for the past few months, the province and the district have been under a lot of negative reports through media coverage due to the tribal fights.
“Rural League is key in identifying talents and NFA is helping us to do this where the mass population is.
“NFA sponsorship will go a long way in easing tensions and contain lawlessness in the province.
“We all know rugby league can unite and promote peace in the province.”
Meanwhile, the WRFL is set to complete its 1st season after 35 years of being inactive.
