Giru Construction Ltd owner Fred Koldop is still determined to export PNG rugby league talents overseas in spite of the naming rights issue.
The naming rights tussle between Giru Construction and Jiwaka Development Corporation saw Giru withdraw from Waghi Tumbe.
Since being a first time sponsor last year, Giru have noted tremendous achievements during their short stint.
Giru Construction owner Fred Koldop said his dream was to help young, passionate players achieve their dreams, and this has been realised.
Sipa Korken who captained the 2018 Giru Waghi Tumbes and two of his fellow teammates, Joshua Nani and Emmanuel Waine, will be travelling to Australia to play in the New South Wales cup competition.
The players spoke highly of the franchise sponsor, Giru Construction Limited, and were grateful for the opportunity given.
“Gavana bin kam na em riniuim lo 2015 na mipla statim tasol niupla provins tu na nogat mani so mipla sa plei nating lo praid blo ol pipol blo Jiwaka,” said Korken. (The governor renewed the team in 2015 and we started but it was a new province as well with no money therefore we played only for the pride of our people of Jiwaka.)
“Last yia mipla lukim narapla kain. At least mipla gat poket mani, femili ol luksave olsem mipla plei raun mipla kisim sampla koins blo seivim lo femli na kain olsem.” (Last year we saw that it was very different. At least we had pocket money, our family saw that we had money saved for them.)
Waine added: “Last yia taim Giru step in olsem sponsa, mi lukim planti bikpla senis kamap. Mipla kam lo Hunters, even finish ted lo kompetishen.” (Last year when Giru stepped in as sponsor, we saw a lot of big changes. We joined the Hunters and even finished third in the [Digicel Cup] competition.)
Other players include Henry Wan and Garry Lo, who have already travelled to France, while Joe Frank is in the current SP Hunters lineup.
K1.4 million was spent to run Tumbe in 2018, said Koldop.
“That’s the financial report that our accountant gave.”
Speaking on the sponsorship tug of war, Koldop said he relented as he believes politics will ruin the game, which is only in its infant stages in the young province.
“We came third last year and I didn’t want our name to be tarnished this year with the continuous struggle,” Koldop stated.
“I still have the heart to support the team wherever there’s space for me to do so.”
(Giru Construction owner Fred Koldop, right, with Emmanuel Waine, back-left, Sipa Korken and Joshua Nani)