Hela Wigmen get K1.8 m sponsor

The Hela Wigmen Rugby League club has received a K1.8 million sponsorship for this years campaign in the Digicel Cup Competition.

 

The sponsorship package includes K1.2 million from Kroton Limited, a subsidiary of Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited (KPHL), includes naming rights to the team who will now be known as the Kroton Limited Hela Wigmen Rugby League Team.

This will cover affiliation fees for the 2017 Digicel Cup Competition (K500,000), the development of a club training infrastructure (K500,000) and an Ambassadorial program with the Ipswich Jets club in the Queensland, Australia (K200,000).

The Hela Provincial Government also has provided K600,000 to the Club for this year.

KPHL Managing Director, Wapu Sonk, said the sponsorship is part of KPHL’s platform to create opportunities for Papua New Guineans to excel in any aspect of development.

“Supporting Hela Wigmen in rugby fits into one of KPHL’s visions to create opportunity for Hela youths to excel in sports.

Most importantly, KPHL as a National Oil and Gas company feels very much obligated to return something back to the people of Hela for collective benefits, hence agreed to sponsor Hela’s elite rugby team.”

Hela Governor Francis Potape said the club was the flagship of the Province and there needed to be proper funding to support it to provide pathways for rugby league players in the province.

He said the undertaking should be taken on board resource companies.

“I’m really happy that Kumul Petroleum has come on board. This is something that some of our companies that are removing oil and gas should’ve done in sponsoring students in education, health sector and so forth.  You come to Tari today there’s nothing. And if Hela is to change one time, then this sort of programs mark the beginning of change,” Potape said.

Hela Wigmen Club Chairman, Andy Hetra, expressed appreciation for the sponsorship and great pleasure to have Kroton as the naming rights sponsor.

“My board and management of Hela Wigman Franchise are delighted to have Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited and its subsidiary Kroton on-board with hela Wigman. Kroton is synonym with Hela in as far as PNG LNG Project benefits are concerned. Coming on board to sponsor Hela’s elite rugby team is truly appreciated,” Hetra said.

The development of training infrastructure for the club will cover the improvement of a proper rugby league field as well as a fully kitted gym.

Under the ‘Ambassadorial Program’ four Hunters players will join the Ipswich Jets for the 2017 season where they will be exposed to a consistent level of professional training and game experience.

Ipswich Jets CEO, Jason Cubit, said there was a lot of talent in PNG and the Jets were welcoming.

“We’ve got Richie (Richard Pandia) and Sebastian (Pandia) and we’ve got lots of Kiwis and indigenous boys so it’s a melting pot for rugby league talent and many flags are flown every week, so we’re looking forward to more rugby league boys from PNG coming down as well,” Cubit said.

Opportunities will also be given to players by KPHL includes entry into the Kumul Petroleum Academy which will province skills training for life after football.

Also present at the signing was Minister for Finance and Tari-Pori KP, James Marape who commended all parties for working together to provide a pathway for their people.