OTML SUPPORTS PNGFA WITH K1M
By Letisha KOLOKOL
OK TEDI Mining Limited recently presented K1 million to the PNG Football Association to assist with development of football in the country.
OTML Managing Director and CEO, Mr Kedi Ilimbit shared his personal observation saying that soccer is one of the prestigious and loved sport in the world. However, in the country, focus seems to be put in Rugby League.
“Soccer is a game that we need to encourage in the country. Rugby Legue will go as far a certain limit but soccer will go beyond that limit. Soccer has seen the inclusion of young girls, women as well. Soccer does not discriminate” he said
He further adds that although soccer is renowned in the country with a reach at the grassroots level, it has not been getting much recognition from the businesses and different agencies in the country.
“We haven’t been really big on sponsoring sports except that if you go back to the rural areas in PNG, you will see that soccer is played in any shape of all” Mr Ilimbit said.
Mr Ilimbit hopes that with OK Tedi’s donation to PNGFA, the soccer fraternity will use the money to development more young players and give more prominence to the sport in the country.
“Giving sponsorship to soccer, I see that it will cover wider PNG, than being regionally based,” said Mr Ilimbit.
The PNG football Association today received a generous donation of K1 million from the longest-running open-pit copper, gold, and silver mine in PNG, Ok Tedi Minning Limited (OTML).
The presentation of the cheque was done last week at the Kwalimu Haus in Port Moresby, in the presence of OTML MD and CEO, Mr Kedi Ilimbit, PNGFA President Mr John Kapi Natto and PNGFA Acting General Secretary Mr Amjad Tekwie.
Mr Ilimbit challenged PNGFA President and his team, to put their politics aside and to help the young people that are roaming around the street, looking for opportunities to take up soccer.
Meanwhile, President of the PNGFA John Kapi Natto thanked Mr Ilimbit and OK Tedi Minning Limited for their generous support and assures them that the money will be spent accordingly.
