THE Somare Shield Soccer competition was revived in Wewak last weekend after more than 10 years by local MP Stanley Muts Samban, Laiagaip MP Amos Akem, and members of the Somare family.
Samban said that the competition aimed to foster unity and restore harmony in Sepik.
 “For development to thrive, unity is essential. Let’s bring together youths from Sepik be it from the mountains, islands, or mainland and collaborate to bring positive change to our province,” he said.
Junior Michael Somare expressed gratitude to Samban for revitalizing the competition, originally initiated by his late father, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare.
He advocated for inviting provinces nationwide to participate in the annual competition next year.
Laiagaip MP Amos Akem shared Junior Somare’s sentiments, emphasizing that Sir Michael Somare epitomized Papua New Guinea.
“If we name the annual soccer competition the Somare Shield, let’s invite all 22 provinces to compete for it. This is how we uphold the legacy and dream of our nation’s father for unity through sports,” he stated.
The competition saw 59 teams from across Sepik competing for the shield. The competition, originally launched in the 1980s by Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, holds significant cultural and sporting importance for the province.
