BY KENNY ROMANUS
LOTIC Group of Companies a local landowner company based in Kiunga in North Fly District of Western Province held its 4th successful Rugby 7s tournament for the youth of Western Province.
Over 240 youths representing 17 teams from villages of Western Province mainly from Kiunga along Tabubil highway took part in the one day tournament at Kiunga main oval last Saturday December 17.
More than three hundred plus spectators witnessed the event showing support to their family members taking part.
Awards and cash prizes were given to the teams placing First, Second and Third. In the women’s division, the Cup was won by the Mepu Blacks, Plate winner was MXM and the Bowl winner was LOTIC Heliconias while in the men’s division, the Kwire Pukpuks walked away with the Cup, the plate was won by Maganis and Bowl winner was Mepu Blacks.
Best player of the tournament was Kesa Uladu for Mens from the KSS Dragons team while in the women’s segment it was Anna Tabi from the Mepu Black team.
LOTIC as host provided refreshments, water, lunch to all the participating teams.
LOTIC with support from its business partners who came forward to sponsor provided rugby ball, rugby jursy, short, stockings and boots to all participating teams.
Chief Executive Officer of LOTIC Group of Companies, Mr. Anthony Amerasinghe in his speech to the community at the Kiunga main oval on saturday stated that he is working to register the tournament with the PNG Rugby Union Federation so the tournament will give opportunity for young men and women to be selected from Western Province to take part in the national competition.
Mr. Amerasinghe also stated that he is working alongside with the office of the North Fly MP, Hon. Member James Donald, North Fly District Administrator, Mr. Greg Isau and the Fly River Provincial Government, Office of Western Province Governor, Hon. Taboi Awi Yotto and Provincial Administrator, Mr. Robert Alphonse Kayun to upgrade and maintain the Kiunga Main Oval to the national standards under Private Public Partnership(PPP) so that general public and partners take responsibility of the investment by the local government. The oval will be upgraded not only for Rugby but also for other sports like the athletics.
LOTIC as a local company is looking forward to support all sports by bringing coaches from the national and international level to support the development of sports not only in the North Fly district but Western Province as a whole.
Mr. Amerasinghe also thanked the general public for witnessing the tournament and for showing support towards their family members talking part in the tournament.
He also stated that LBL usually hosts such tournament every year but was disturbed by the Covid-19 pandemic and didn’t have such tournament in years 2020 and 2021 but this year’s tournament was a successful one together with the previous years hosted in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Mr. Amerasinghe also encouraged the youths to prepare themselves for the next year’s annual tournament.
The purpose of the tournament is to support the community and as LOTIC being the local company, its obligation is to support the communities in various angles and to grow with community.
Western Star 