SP supports team PNG

Caption: Members from the weightlifting team hoisting the dummy cheque while Mr Kassman (far-left) and Mr Joyce (first-right) look on.


By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, August 18, 2013 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)



SOUTH Pacific (SP) Brewery, has done it again- presenting K100,000 to team PNG, to assist in their preparation for the Mini Pacific Games, held in Wallis and Futuna, from September 2 to 12, continuing their close association with sports in Papua New Guinea, last week in Port Moresby at the Brewkettle.

The assistance is timely for Team PNG as the games will commence in three week time, which will go into the total pool of contributions to reach the budget target of K2.8 million.

General Manager of SP, Stan Joyce, emphasised the close relation SP had with sports in the country.

“SP has been a long supporter of sport in PNG, which goes back as far as 1963 South Pacific Games-we do it because we think it is the right thing to do, to engage with the community from which we seek our income.”

“We also believe that it contributes positively to the country, to national pride, which is very important. We believe national pride is important because we are very proud of our products,” he said.

He added that the relationship with sport can be a way that we can help government achieve its 2050 vision of having a safe and healthy population.

Emphasising the use sports to get the message across on awareness on what is acceptable and what is not acceptable with alcohol consumption.

On receiving the donation, Chef de mission of Team PNG, Richard Kassman, said that he was happy with the presence of athlete who witnessed the ceremony, stating that it wasone of the key messages put to the management team, and various sports managers,that they are the servers, and athletes are their bosses.

“That is an important way in which we will manage our athletes as we go forward.”

“On behalf of PNG Olympic Committee and Team PNG, we’re very thankful for this contribution, which will go a long way to help us on our journey on the 31st of August when we fly to Wallis and Futuna,” he said.

When asked how he thought team PNG would do at the games, Mr Kassman said that they anticipated a top three finish.

“Yes we are preparing for 2015, but the gold medals we win at the mini pacific games are still gold medals none the less.”

“We are very serious in our attendance of the games in Wallis and Futuna, and when we’re successful at the games, we will bring back tremendous national pride for the country,” he added.