SPORTS Minister, Hon Kinoka Feo has congratulated Kapuls, the PNG Football Team, for winning the 2024 MSG Prime Ministers Cup in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
Feo, who is also the Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology said, the Kapuls displayed a high degree of sportsmanship during the tournament which started last week and eventually landed the prized 2024 title on Saturday after a 2-1 victory over Vanuatu.
Minister Feo had congratulated the team on their grinding 3-2 victory over Solomon Islands on Thursday, which laid the foundation for some exciting football as their confidence level would have been given a massive boost.
“That performance was quite impressive in that the hosts are the reigning champions whose passionate Honiara home crowd kept urging them on,” said Minister Feo in a statement.
“But PNG kept their focus, that victory putting our team in a favourable position as there were no finals following the withdrawal of New Caledonia so progressive points based on wins became critical.”
He said PNG had opened up their campaign in fine style edging out Solomon Islands Development Team 1-0 on the opening Monday of the two-week competition.
Minister Fao said the next game against Fiji last Sunday, PNG drew 1-all to stay focused on the hunt for the title which they won in the 2022 edition of the tournament in Port Vila, Vanuatu.
Last year in Noumea, New Caledonia – PNG didn’t do as well, finishing fourth in the four nations tournament so this is a memorable performance which the Minister was honoured to witness.
Minister Feo couldn’t be at the opening of the tournament as he joined Prime Minister James Marape for the Investment Week in Sydney last week, which was also when the historic announcement for PNG NRL entry in 2028 was made.
“Getting the PNG franchise into the world’s toughest rugby league competition sets the scene ‘for us to grow the game in the Pacific region and increase the fan base,” he said.
“Our PNG team entering the NRL in 2028 is more like a Melanesian team entering NRL so our fan base can be spread as far as Solomon Islands, Fiji and Vanuatu who are contesting the MSG Prime Ministers Cup,” Feo said.
He used the opportunity to announce that PNG will host the 2025 edition of the MSG Prime Minister’s Cup as part of our country’s 50th Anniversary Celebrations.
“And we aim to make it a memorable one too,” Minister Feo said.
