By GABRIEL KATUHO
THE Papua New Guinea Cricket have awarded four Medal winners respective of the senior male and women and junior male and female teams.
Below is a brief interview piece and award description of the award winners of 2024 cricket award winners.
Tonny Elly Medal – Assad Vala
Assad Vala received a prestigious award for being the best performing individual in the PNG Barrabundis cricket team. Having representation in the T20 World cup and other international competition Assad Vala reigned from being one of the outstanding players to have won the Tonny Elly Medal for the sixth time in his career.
Mr Vala was proud of representing the country through Cricket and for the love of the sport.
He thanked the sponsors, the coaches, and his team mates for the team work in achieving some of the good results and putting PNG on global radar.
Vala also thanked his family for the unwavering support towards him as he played his heart out for the country to have gained the recognition.
Rarua Dikana Medal – Gaba Frank
Gaba Frank expressed his appreciation towards becoming the winner of the Rarua Dikana Medal. He said he is really proud of himself for his hard work and commitment has finally paid off.
Captaining the under 19 PNG cricket squad ‘Garamuts’ in 2023 and 2024 and putting up some outstanding results in the international test matches, the 16-year-old from Pari village in the Motuan Coastline is thrilled to have achieved this medal as a recognition for his skills.
“Choosing Cricket was a choice and now I am seeing places because cricket is an international match.”
Last year when we went to Samoa, I was not thinking of achieving this Medal. I was focusing on winning the game,” he said.
Now that he is the Rarua Dikana Medal winner, he is encouraging young boys and girls from his village and the country to stay disciplined and work hard in anything they want to achieve in life.
Kunemo Amini Medal – Tanya Ruma
This is my first time to win this award so I am very proud. It is a tough year for us, and we are fighting hard and finished this year.
I am so emotional right after being mentioned as one of the winners of this medal.
I want to thank my husband, my parents, and my two girls. This award is for you.
Being named with two of her team mates, she said all of them are winners no matter she was mentioned as the finalist winner of the award.
The 31-year-old is aiming to play in the world cup representing PNG before she retires.
Kaia Arua Medal – Dika Lohia
Being the first recipient of the Late Kiai Arua Medal, young Dika Lohia was very proud yet emotional as she recalled her Debut with Late Kaia Arua in Auckland playing for PNG Lewas.
Lohia is also an under 19 Siales player and Lewas. She recently captained the team to Indonesia for the under 19 world cup qualifier and was named two times player of the match, she also received the bowler and player of the tournament.
The rising star from Pari Village is looking to maintain the PNG Lewas position and also the under 19 Siales for next year’s session.
“I want to encourage my friends and those who wish to take cricket as sport to trust in yourself and always put God first in everything you do in life,” Lohia expressed.
