bemobile Cup

Gurias rumble

2010-08-16T19:42:00.002+10:00

CAPTION: Rangers’ Emmanuel Uki (right) being tackled by Hagen Kuris Bamu Talingapua in yesterday’s bemobile Cup match in Port Moresby. Rangers won 16-6. – Nationalpic by AURI EVA

Muruks left tryless at the Kalabond ‘graveyard’

By ELIZABETH VUVU

THE bemobile Cup top of the table clash at the Kalabond “graveyard” in Kokopo saw competition leaders NGIP Agmark Gurias thrash SBS Mendi Muruks 28-4 yesterday, The National reports.
Muruks fought an uphill battle against the hosts only managing two penalty goals through Andrew Sam early in the second half.
Gurias’ Rolly Matalau got the homeside on the board first with a penalty in the second minute for a 2-0 lead.
A well-executed move saw youngster Chris Jerry score minutes later as Matalau converted to make it 8-0.
Rugby convert Jeffrey Vinavel, who missed last week’s game, then beat five Muruk defenders on his way to the tryline for a14-0 advantage.
Minutes before half time, Jerry scored his second try for the day after he dodged and bounced off three tackles, at the same time juggling the ball and putting it down on the try line to close out the half at 18-0 for the Islanders.
Kumul forward George Moni added further misery for the Muruks when he latched onto a Sakias Kabange short ball to score for a 22-4 lead – this coming after Sam’s two earlier penalties.
Vinavel, a former Pukpuk, added his second as he crashed through three Muruks bringing the score to 28-4.
Gurias assistant coach Oscar Tonga said his side’s defence was the key to their win.
Muruks, on the other hand, accepted their loss and said they would be returning to Lae to re-set for next week’s important clash against Masta Mak Rangers in Port Moresby.

A win at last

2010-05-31T13:02:00.000+10:00

Three-try hero Johnson Kuike (centre) of the Rangers getting tackled by Lae Bombers players led by veteran forward Lawrence Goive (left) in round four of the bemobile Cup yesterday in Port Moresby. Rangers won 36-16. – Nationalpic by EKAR KEAPU

Masta Mak Rangers finally snap three-game bemobile Cup losing streak

By HENRY MORABANG in The National

LOCK Johnson Kuike put on the man of the match performance scoring a hattrick of tries to help Masta Mak Rangers register their first bemobile Cup victory 32-16 over Lae Bombers at Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby yesterday.
In the other games yesterday, Kongo Coffee Warriots proved too classy for Bintangor Goroka Lahanis 16-10 in Goroka, NGIP Agmark Gurias buried WGS Mt Hagen Kuris in Kokopo 36-0 and Structural Bridging System Mendi Muruks fought a 20-all draw with Stop and Stop Civpac Vipers in Lae.
Kuike, a BSP security officer from Simbu, scored half of his side’s six tries to rout the Bombers who scored three.
After failing to complete 12 sets of six in an an abominable error-ridden opening 15 minutes, the Port Moresby franchise were seemingly in deep trouble especially with the ball coming loose in contact.
To their credit the Rangers regrouped to send Kuike through some half-hearted Bombers defence to open the score in the 12th minute for a 6-0 lead.
Three minutes later, Bombers secondrower Yobo Motoro replied for the visitors with an unconverted try to trail 6-4.
The game see-sawed for a period before Kuike visited the tryline again in the 21st minute to extend the score 10-4.
Rangers capitalised on their heavier forwards and started to create the time and space for a potent backline to flourish.
In one such move, the Rangers worked a slick move down the left flank to send winger Joel Ambrose through in the 26th minute .
Goalkicker Simon Maniat made sure of the conversion to cushion their lead 16-4.
With four minutes before half time, Rangers fullback Samson Ene scored from a Maniat inside ball to break out to a 22-4 lead at half time.
In the second half, Rangers using their forward might to punch holes in the Bombers which eventually led Kuike to scoring his third of the afternoon in the 41st minute. With another succesful conversion by new recruit Skipper Mel the Rangers were out to a commending lead 28-4. Power Ranger Ham Tee all but sealed the match in 48th minute for a 32-4 advantage.
The Bombers sensing the game was slipping away game back strongly in the last 10 minutes to score two tries.
Skipper Russ Kaupa Jr displayed his individual brilliance with a clever chip and chase to recollect and score next to the uprights to peg back the lead 32-10.
Bombers forwards Nelson Tony, Lawrence Goive, Sydney Fred, Ben Kaupa started to muscle up on Rangers forwards resulting in an entralling final minutes as Rangers big men Enoch Maki, Nathan Anjo, Ford Tuli and skipper Francis Ray clashed with Bombers pack.
The Lae team’s consistency in the last minute paid off when five-eighth Martin Yanda scored a consolation try to add some respectability to the final scoreline.
The match was well controlled by Porgera-based State of Origin accreditated linesman Wayne Wool.

Warriors given a second chance

2010-03-01T23:03:00.000+10:00

Kundiawa Warriors are back after 3 years in exile

By BURI GABI and ZACHARY PER

PNG rugby league’s prodigal son the Kundiawa Warriors are set to return to the country’s premier rugby league competition the bemobile Cup, The National reports.

After getting the green light by the Cup governing board over the weekend, the Simbu franchise will take part in the competition after three years in the sporting wilderness.

The Warriors paid K70, 000 to the PNGRFL offsetting a K60, 000 debt incurred by previous sponsor Pagini Transport.

The extra K10, 000 was an initial payment to get the Warriors on board with an additional K80, 000 yet to be paid for the Simbu provincial team complete its entry requirements for 2010.

According to Fox, all franchise teams are urged to pay their franchise fees of K90, 000 for this year before March 13.

The bemobile cup board under chairman Don Fox agreed unanimously to accept the Warriors bid after submissions and guarantees from the interim Warriors board headed by Jerry Kapka with the endorsement of Simbu MPs in Governor Fr John Garia and Kundiawa/Gembogl MP Joe Mek Teine.

Fox, also the PNG National Rugby League board chairman, confirmed that the Warriors were definite starters for the 2010 season but under strict conditions in particular not bringing the game into disrepute through violence.

“We want to make rugby league a family sport were mums and dads can take their children to watch a game of footy but we need to put a stop to violence in rugby league first,” Fox said.

He said the board decided to re-instate a team from Simbu which he acknowledged had produced many great players over the years and would no doubt continue to do so.

With the inclusion of a team from Simbu, the bemobile Cup can now boast a full complement of teams from the Highlands region further strengthening the competition.

This will now see a total of nine teams in the semi-professional competition: Agmark Gurias, ACTL Bombers, Toyota Mioks, SBS Muruks, CIVPAC Vipers, Masta Mak City Rangers, Bintangor Eagles, Bintangor Lahanis and the Kundiawa Warriors.

The competition will kick off on the April 25 with four matches around the country while one team has the bye.

PNGNRL Chairman, Don Fox said that he was impressed with the Warriors’ commitment to re-entering the competition and commended Warriors board chairman Jerry Kapka and the rest of the interim board for their tireless work over the last seven months.

Fox also visited the playing facilities at the Warriors home ground, Dickson Oval, recently to see first hand the interim board’s plans for redeveloping the playing surface and the stands in time to host home games this season.

Highlights from Sunday's bemobile Cup grand final

2009-10-20T19:23:00.000+10:00

Highlights from Sunday's bemobile Cup grand final between Rabaul Gurias and Enga Mioks.
The Gurias took out the Auld Mug of Papua New Guinea rugby league 24-14. Pictures by AURI EVA of The National, Papua New Guinea's No. 1 daily newspaper

Rabaul Gurias beat Enga Mioks

2009-10-18T22:02:00.000+10:00

Rabaul Gurias today took out the bemobile Cup rugby league grand final with a 24-14 win over Enga Mioks at the Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby.

In front of a capacity crowd, the men from the land of tubuans, dukduks and volcanoes gave a football lesson to the younger and less-experienced Engans in a game which was controlled by Australian refereeing legend Bill Harrigan.

The Gurias raced to a safe 14-0 lead at halftime, and although the Mioks staged a strong second half renaissance, time was not on their side.

Rabaul was first to score in the 13^th minute when prop Rodney Pora powered over near the posts, and with the extras from halfback Rolly Matalau, took an early 6-0 lead.

Matalau followed this shortly after with a penalty goal to push his side further to 8-0.

Enga was in sixes and sevens in the first half, allowing agro to creep into their game, which Rabaul capitalised on with another try to reserve forward Sam Ponda just before the halftime hooter, goaled by Matalau, to lead 14-0.

The Gurias shot to a seemingly-unassailable 20-0 lead in the 45^th minute with a corner try to winger Boas Ruru, which was goaled by Matalau.

The Mioks’ never-say-die attitude showed after that as they scored tried through winger Miok Anjo in the 49^th minute and prop Esau Siune in the 60^th minute, which was goaled by halfback Mai Tom, to trail 20-10.

Rabaul, with machine-like efficiency, drove the final nail into Enga’s coffin with a 71^st minute try to Ruru to complete his double.

The Mioks had some consolation on the hooter with a try to winger Jason Tali, however, it was all too little, too late.

Gurias’ hooker Sakias Kabange capped off a memorable day by being named man-of-the-match.

Governor General Sir Paulias Matane, who happens to be from the land of the Gurias, presented the inaugural bemobile Cup to Gurias’ captain George Moni as a prelude to celebrations.

The cup was delivered by helicopter to the paddock to be unveiled by its designer, 13-year-old Port Moresby student, Florence Metta.

A capacity crowd jam-packed the Lloyd Robson Oval to witness yesterday’s grand final.

bemobile Cup Grand Final Day in pictures

2009-10-18T20:12:00.001+10:00

First pictures of Rabaul Gurias' bemobile Cup win

2009-10-18T19:14:00.001+10:00

Gurias win bemobile Cup

2009-10-18T17:43:00.001+10:00

Rabaul Gurias have just taken out the bemobile Cup with a 24-14 ousting of Enga Mioks at the Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby.

Story and pictures to come.

I'm off to the footy!

2009-10-18T12:01:00.000+10:00

I’m off to the footy to see who wins the bemobile Cup.

Keep watching this blog.

Malum

bemobile Cup Grand Final Day Programme

2009-10-16T15:59:00.000+10:00

Sunday, October 18, 2009
Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby

11am Band commences interlude of entertainment between games
11.20am Curtain-raiser women’s match (1)
12.30pm Band commences interludes of entertainment between games
12.50pm Curtain-raise women’s match (2)
2pm Pre-match entertainment
2.20pm Arrival of Governor General Sir Paulias Matane
2.30pm Team arrivals
2.40pm Teams warm up on field
2.45pm Toss with Referee
2.47pm Teams run out and line up
- Dignitaries walk out
- National Anthem
- Balloon release
2.55pm Kick off by the Governor General
3.00pm Official kick off
3.40pm Watete Theatre Company
3.50pm Second half kick off
4.40pm Presentation by Governor General, PNG National Rugby League Chairman Don Fox and bemobile Chairman Anthony Smare

Joe Tokam quietly keeps bemobile Cup wheels turning

2009-10-16T15:52:00.000+10:00

By KEITH PUARIA of The National, Papua New Guinea's No. 1 daily newspaper

The beMobile Cup grand final on Sunday between the Toyota Enga Mioks and the NGIP Agmark Gurias will bring the curtain down on Season 2009, however, work does not stop behind the scenes.
Long-serving rugby league man, Joe Kuman Tokam (pictured), has been very much a part of the game since hanging up his boots in 1983.
Mr Tokam is operations manager of Papua New Guinea’s premier rugby league competition, the bemobile Cup.
With the Enga Mioks remaining in Port Moresby after their preliminary win against the Goroka Lahanis last Sunday, and the Gurias set to arrive before the end of the week, technical preparations outside of the playing field have been at full throttle for the competition management team and Tokam in particular.
“Apart from the tussle expected between the two sides on centre stage, we are going flat out before the day, making sure everything is in place, everything technical accounted for, and every little area in sight”, he said.
The competition, since its commencement on June 21 has gone according to schedule, according to Tokam, with no real major concern for organisers, and this weekend will be no different.
“The game has come a long way from the previous years,” he said.
“Apart from the incidents that have been much publicised during the season, and steered away from the main show, it has been a much better year than the past.”
Gates at the Lloyd Robson Oval are set to open at 8am with a bumper programme featuring junior games, women’s games and a whole lot more.

St Francis student wins bemobile Cup design competition

2009-10-16T15:46:00.000+10:00

Caption: bemobile Cup designer Florence Metta receives her K10, 000 from bemobile chairman Anthony Smare

By STELLA BITA of bemobile
Thirteen-year-old Florence Metta, a Grade Six student at St Francis Primary School in Koki in the nation’s Capital was declared the winner of the ‘bemobile design the cup competition’ by a panel of judges at the bemobile headquarters on Sept 28.
The nine-week competition that ended on Aug 31 attracted hundreds of entries from students from primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.
bemobile, through chairman Anthony Smare, was on the lookout for a design that was more on a local front and would appeal to the public and promote the image of the semi-professional competition.
On Wednesday Oct 7, a bemobile team headed by Mr Smare and chief commercial officer Chris Raps went to the school and surprised students and staff on the school’s greatest achievement.
A jubilant principal was lost for words upon hearing that one of his pupils had just won K35, 000 by entering the ‘design the bemobile Cup competition: K25, 000 for the school to provide and maintain educational resources and facilities and K10, 000 as a trust fund account to go towards Ms Metta’s school fees in the coming years.
Her design is currently with a local manufacturing firm which is in the construction phase of the new bemobile Cup.
Ms Metta’s design will be unveiled at the presentation of the grand final awards on Sunday.
Ms Metta, accompanied by her aunt Solange, will be there to unveil the 2009 bemobile Cup at the Lloyd Robson Oval.
She will be among a number of very senior dignitaries in the bemobile corporate box on Sunday.

Gurias' proud track record

2009-10-16T15:35:00.000+10:00

Caption: The Gurias arriving at Kokopo with the then SP Cup in 2005

The NGIP Agmark Gurias (previously under different names) have been participating in the PNG intercity rugby league competion since its inception in 1990.

Recruitments over the years have included the likes of John Waka, Kom Rumints, Peter Dun, Stanley Sukot, Menzie Yere, Opisa Pomba, Michael Angra, Ricky Sibiya, Michael Marum, Tuksy Karu, Chris Lome, Baltasa Lome, Raynold Balele, Dusty Mockley, Jessie Alunga, Andrew Buka, Rolly Matalau, Daniel Kulmat, Velarin Akeria, James Soatsin, Stanis Kale, Kelly Nopi and Giamuki Tau.

Many of these players have either represented the Kumuls in the past or advanced on to represent the Kumuls.

Gurias have had a good record over the history of the PNG Intercity Rugby League Competition, formerly known as the SP Cup, now known as the bemobile Cup.

The Gurias’ proud history includes the following;

· 1999 - Runners up Coached by Jeff Wade

· 2000 - Runners up Coached by Jeff Wade

· 2001 - Premiers Coached by Jeff Wade

· 2003 - Premiers SP Shield Coached by Michael Marum with Wesley Wynm co-coach

· 2004 - Runners Up SP Shield Coached by Michael Marum with Wesley Wynm co-coach

· 2005 - Premiers Coached by Norm Norris (NGIP Agmark took over)

· 2006 - Finished 3rd Coached by Norm Norris

· 2007 - Runners up Coached By Michael Marum

· 2008 - Finished 4th Coached by Michael Marum

Muscleman David Mugarenang

2009-10-16T13:14:00.000+10:00

Muscleman David Mugarenang, from Finschhafen, Morobe province, flexing his muscles at a bemobile Cup grand final dinner at the Crowne Plaza in Port Moresby last night.
Australian rugby league refereeing legend, Bill Harrigan, who will control Sunday's grand final between Enga Mioks and Rabaul Gurias, was the guest at the dinner and reminisced on his long and colouful career as a whistle-blower.

"Mioks in crisis" - a myth

2009-10-15T14:20:00.002+10:00

By *PHILIP KEPSON

When the print media published at their prestigious back page a news story with a headline“Mioks in crisis” on the wholesale sacking of the team officials towards the end the first round of the bemobile Cup challenge, patrons of the team were obviously baffled.
Some of them said: “What the hell is going again”, while some said, “Just give up with this Mioks, and forget them”.
Such remarks were inevitable particularly following their daunting performance in the previous two years with allegations of rape and airport brawl incidents involving players of the team.
However, the patron and strong advocate of the team Governor Peter Ipatas and major sponsor, Ela Motors, were charily briefed by the board before the team manager, the head coach, trainer and three players were presented with their marching orders.
In fact, the board under the chairmanship of Robert Ganim, told the Governor and the sponsors that they were coming up with the hard decision on reasons directly related with discipline to protect the team.
Thus, the board did not waste time in recalling former coach Toksy Nema, expoliceman Peter Kapi as team manager and former Kumul Centre Paul Gela and young Norman Simon of the Wabag rugby league as trainers.
They were given clear instructions before allowing them to take charge of the team with strong emphasis on discipline and commitment while telling the players not to stick their nose into the board’s decision.
Soon after the changes, the team went on to record rousing victories against most resilient teams like Mt Hagen Eagles, Mendi Muruks and Lae Bombers as there was apparent sign of desirable improvement in discipline among officials and players.
When the team continued on with its winning spree in matches both at home and in Lae with credible score lines, any speculation that the team was heading for a disaster started to disappear as thousands of Engans from four corners of the province flooding into Johnson Siki oval on Sundays to grant the much-needed support, receptively led by their illustrious provincial leaders including Governor Ipatas, Paul Kurai, Gutnius Lutheran Church Bishop Rev David Piso, Yasua Kome, senior public servants, Wabag town residents and other prominent figures.
In fact, the team that absurd critics and the media speculated to be heading for a disaster received supplementary morale boost when the small business houses in the province, the meticulous public servants and their gracious cosponsor, the Enga provincial government committed over K100,000 to subsidise entrance (gate) fees to encourage more people to come and watch and provide their support in the last four home games which gainfully saw Mioks recording an all out win of their home games to comfortably finish second on the competition ladder of the first ever bemobile Cup with 20 points after Rabaul Guira on 22.
The excitement among local supporters did not stop in Wabag when the competition authorities scheduled all Toyota Mioks final matches against Mendi Muruks, Goroka Lahanis and Masta Mak Rangers to be played in Lae.
The supporters in the province swiftly mobilised themselves with over 200-500 vehicles including 40 buses and booked out hotels and guest houses in Lae to urge their much-loved team on, which consequently saw the Muruks and Rangers getting belted out of the race while narrowly losing to Lahanis before they paid back in the major semi final showdown last Sunday in Port Moresby with a convincing 18-10 score line.
Despite the victories, particularly with the excitement reaching greatest heights, there were instances of disasters including three car accidents along the Highlands Highway involving over 50 men and women who sustained minor injuries, smashing of car windscreens by hooligans on the road during night travels and lavish spending of their money on the trips to Lae, the enthusiasm continued to become an overriding factor.
Added to the strong support base in Enga were sincere backing by people from the five Highlands provinces including a faction of Sepiks in Lae as the Toyota Mioks team this year is composed extensively of players from various parts of the Highlands region.
Not only the Highlands region but it has also players from Lae where one of them is from Sepik or better known as "a Sepik from Lae" .
In this way, when the team wins, grand celebrations are held in Mt Hagen, Mendi, Kagua, Jiwaka, Goroka, Asaro, Henganofi, Enga, Kundiawa, Sinasina and Lae where the players’ relatives and supporters live.On the whole, when the players were recruited from the popular Coca-Cola Ipatas Cup in the beginning of this year (before the competition started), to make it to the grand final was not in their mind as the players were from unknown rural leagues.
But Governor Ipatas told them during a Coca-Cola Ipatas Cup presentation night in Wabag after the new team was announced that one of the reasons for forming the Coca-Cola Ipatas Cup was to tap into the hidden talent in the rural sector of the country to give equal opportunity to those who had been overlooked for many years.
He said he had all the confidence that his new team would become competitive in the bemobile Cup challenge.
“I have all the confidence that you will become a competitive team with players from the towns that are participating in the semi professional team. Lift your heads and think positive towards taking on this challenge,” he told the players.
After that, Governor Ipatas held a meeting where he made a few changes to the membership of the board and gave them the challenge of taking on the new team to be successful in the competition.
Despite Governor Ipatas’ confidence in his team, the team under the circumstance started as underdogs with a bunch of unknown players.
However, Governor Ipatas and his new board kept holding their heads high with regular meeting and doing what they thought was best to shape up the team with the aim of proving all critics wrong one day.
Congratulations to Governor Ipatas and his hard working board members, sponsors and supporters for basically doing that (proving critics including the media wrong) when they emerged from nowhere in the competition to be on the top to make the grand final of the prestigious bemobile Cup.
The Toyota Miok board deserves a special credit for taking one of the biggest risks ever to endorse a wholesale sacking of the officials, which later paid off with the greatest reward of seeing a bunch of unknown players beating all odds to qualify eventually for the grand final of the exalted bemobile Cup.
As the two teams, Toyota Mioks and Rabaul Agmark Guria, are moving closer to the greatest showdown on Sunday, the supporters in both camps are gearing up to cheer on their teams, while the Mioks in particular think that if they were the first to bury the Gurias in their own graveyard in 2000 in the former SP Cup with an 8-6 score line in Kokopo before they went onto belt them further with 20-16 in the grand final in the same year, they should be confident of repeat that on Sunday.
Well, let’s wait and see the best team wins.

*Philip Kepson is publicity officer of the Enga Mioks

Winning is the name of the game for Gurias in bemobile Cup final

2009-10-14T18:57:00.000+10:00

By BURI GABI of The National, Papua New Guinea's No. 1 daily newspaper

ANY competition starts with everyone wanting to win the title at the end, and the 2009 bemobile Cup is no exception.
NGIP Agmark Gurias team manager Ted Vere said this as his team prepares to play Toyota Enga Mioks in the bemobile Cup rugby league grand final at the Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby on Sunday.
“I directed my boys to win all the seven home games at the ‘graveyard’ at the Kalabond rugby league ground in Kokopo, and at least win four away matches to secure a finals spot in the cup battle,” Vere said,
“But my boys have done extremely well to secure the first grand finals, and to add the icing, claiming the minor premiership tag for this year.
“Our aim now is to take home the cup to Rabaul to our rugby league-loving fans.”
The Gabagaba, Central province man, has adopted well in his new job and has successfully helped steer the Gurias into yet another grand final.
In 2005, the Gurias took the then SP Cup to Kokopo after defeating the Brian Bell Bulldogs from Port Moresby.
This year’s grand final appearance is the talk of Kokopo, with die-hard fans wanting nothing than the return of PNG rugby league’s Auld Mug to the land of tubuans, dukduks and volcanoes.
Hence the Gurias wanting nothing nothing less than to stand on the victory dais come Sunday.
“The victory is for our sponsors, the people of New Guinea Islands, and families of the dedicated players in the squad who have been together over last 14 weeks,” Vere said confidently.
Coach Michael Marum and Vere have been working extra hard over the last two weeks to get the boys together and bolster them to claim the bemobile cup.
The Gurias are not treating this game as anything special and are doing their normal preparations.
Vere says for for the Gurias to win, it will be a team effort from all 17 players and the big guns Diyon Aiye, George Moni, Kot Kerua, and Rodney Pora.
Rolly Matalau, Boas Ruru, Pidik Tongap, Channel Aquila and sneaky hooker Sakias Kambange are others who will be counted on.
“All our fans have been telling us to win this Sunday because both our U16 and U19 NGI teams have won this year’s zone titles, and to finish the year on the high note, it is the senior team who must claim the bemobile Cup competition,” Vere said.
He’s says it’s a big ask but the Gurias will be out to do the job.

Enga's pride wants the bemobile Cup

2009-10-14T15:40:00.000+10:00

By BURI GABI of The National, Papua New Guinea's No. 1 daily newspaper

THE pride of Enga, Toyota Mioks, want nothing less than the bemobile Cup when they take on bitter rivals Agmark Gurias in the bemobile Cup grand final at the Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby on Sunday.
Mioks’ Captain Courageous David Ako is determined to win for the people of Enga, major sponsor Ela Motors and diehard supporter and Enga Governor Peter Ipatas.
This is despite the myriad of controversies which have beset the team this year.
“We been sleeping and eating together at the Sopas Adventist centre over the last 14 weeks, despite the controversial issues that affected the team and the camp,” he said.
“I’ve told my boys to play rugby league and give back the best results to the people of Enga.
“Let the board and management deal with those issues.”
He said his players had stood together as a despite despite all the setbacks.
Sunday’s game will be a repeat of the 2000 grand final in which the Mioks rode roughshod over the Gurias.
The men from the land of tubuans, dukduks and volcanoes look the have the more-experienced side with seasoned campaigners George Moni, Rodney Pora, Chris Purkikil, Chanel Aquila and Lasan Marabe leading the pack.
Ako is banking on the raging bull David Loko, Timothy Clement, Jonah Mackey, Miok Anjo and creative halfback Mose to lead by example.
With PNG Resident Kumuls halfback Mai Tom and regular five-eight James Meninga back from injury, the Mioks will prove a hard nut to crack for the Gurias.
“It’ll all boil down to defence, which has been a key aspect of our recent victories, as well as ball control,” Ako said.
“We’ll be giving it our all to take the bemobile Cup back to Enga.”

bemobile reflects on the year that was

2009-10-14T14:09:00.000+10:00

By STELLA BITA of bemobile

“It was a challenge not knowing what we were going into but good support from the previous sponsors and the national community helped pull us through the year.”
This was the response by bemobile’s deputy CEO John Papazian (pictured) on the first year of sponsorship by bemobile for the bemobile Cup.
The bemobile cup will finally come to a close for the year 2009 on Sunday, Oct 18, after the grand final match between Rabaul’s Agmark Gurias and the Enga’s Toyota Mioks.
This comes after 18 challenging weeks of co-ordinating bemobile Cup games held in four main centres of the country.
But for bemobile, this first year of sponsorship, though challenging, was a great learning opportunity for both the management and the staff of the mobile company.
“The bemobile cup competition is one that is growing from strength to strength,” Mr Papazian said.
“The sponsorship by bemobile enabled the competition to become a flagship event, hence, promoting bemobile provincially and regionally.
“All in all it was great learning opportunity.”
bemobile’s move to sponsoring the cup was based on a more family-oriented perspective.
bemobile, as the major sponsor, had the intention of making the games more family-oriented with rugby league one of the most-liked sports in the country.
bemobile’s chief commercial officer, Chris Raps, says bemobile is still looking into means and ways of improving and encouraging crowds, particularly families, at the bemobile Cup games.
“Sport, basically any sport, is a social and economical tool for the country, but we here at bemobile have opted to sponsor rugby league as it seems to have a great impact in PNG,” he said.
The bemobile cup competition was launched on June 4, 2009, at the Lamana Gold Club in Port Moresby by the NCD Governor, Powes Parkop, and witnessed by many corporate and statutory heads.
The competition began on June 21, 2009, with a match between the two city Teams, CIVPAC Vipers and Masta Mak Rangers, at the Lloyd Robson Oval.
The Official kick off was performed by bemobile board chairman, Anthony Smare (pictured).
Matches were also played in Lae, Goroka and Wabag.
With this year’s competition over and done with, bemobile is hopeful to put into action what they have learnt throughout the first year of sponsorship and make the bemobile Cup competition bigger and better next year.

Papua New Guinea National Rugby League thanks sponsors and Franchise companies for job well done

2009-10-14T13:23:00.000+10:00

By STELLA BITA of bemobile

The Papua New Guinea National Rugby League is certain that next year’s bemobile cup competition will be bigger and better.
Operations manager for bemobile cup, Joe Tokam, made this known when expressing his satisfaction about the entire competition.
“2009 competition went smoothly,” he said.
“I would like to thank the supporters and spectators of the franchise teams for supporting in good spirits and enhancing a peaceful atmosphere throughout the season.”
He said the reports on riots and disturbances throughout the competition were minor compared to previous incidents in the earlier competition.
He was impressed with the franchise companies for a job well done.
“The franchise companies did very well despite the fact that the league fraternity was not properly organised and I would like to express gratitude to franchise owners for sponsoring their teams,” Mr Tokam said.
He outlined that this year, the competition started very late, therefore, clashing with the international matches scheduled in October.
He said for 2010, the competition would begin in early May, so that there was no clash on venues during the bemobile tournament.
Meanwhile, Mr Tokam is still working on a strategy to help increase the cash flow in all centres where bemobile tournaments are held.
He said to date, only Port Moresby and Lae were up to date on cash flow takings, but the other centres were yet to pick up.
“I am thankful to the bemobile staff for their time and efforts in coordinating the games,” Mr Tokam said.
“Thank you for your tireless efforts in making the bemobile cup 2009 a success up till the grand final.
“The grand finale will put a halt to the tireless weekends and sleepless nights that many of the staff went through.” Mr Tokam said.
bemobile will be sponsoring the competition over a three year period and spending over K600, 000 per year.

Victors and the vanquished

2009-10-12T08:17:00.002+10:00

Victors and the vanquished...Celebrations among Toyota Enga Mioks players amidst folorn scenes among Bintangor after today’s do-or-die bemobile Cup rugby league clash at the Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby. Mioks take on Agmark Rabaul Gurias in the grand final next Sunday.-Pictures by MALUM NALU

Victorious Enga Mioks after today's do-or-die bemobile Cup game against Goroka Lahanis

2009-10-12T08:17:00.001+10:00

Goroka's 'chocolate soldiers' don't melt in battle

2009-10-12T08:17:00.000+10:00

Captions:1. Goroka’s Captain Courageous Nigel Hukula congratulates the Mioks.2: The Goroka Lahanis before doing battle. 3: Forlorn Goroka players being consoled by coach Peter Danga (back to camera).-Pictures by MALUM NALU

At the beginning of this year’s bemobile Cup competition, in the rugby league-mad town of Goroka, the Bintangor Goroka Lahanis were disparaged as a bunch of “no-hopers”.
The side was put together at the 11th hour, after local business house Bintangor Trading came in, when the Lahanis were on the verge of being dumped from the competition because of no sponsor.
How wrong these prophets of doom were, as Goroka’s ‘chocolate soldiers’, who they said would melt in the heat of battle, proved them so wrong.
At the Lloyd Robson Oval paddock yesterday, their supporters were outnumbered by legions of Mioks fans, including local ‘royalty’ in the likes of Enga Governor Peter Ipatas.
They walked off the paddock after 80 minutes gallant in defeat and proudly wearing the red badge of courage.
Captain Courageous Nigel Hukula, the ‘outsider’ who has become a hometown legend in Goroka, was philosophical about the loss.
“Half of the team are newcomers and no one gave us a chance at the beginning of this year,” he said.
“It’s a real credit to these young guys.
“It’s disappointing but it’s also a plus for rugby league in Goroka.”
Hukula gave kudos to the Mioks for being the better side on the day.
“It’s disappointing,” he said.
“We came here prepared after last week’s game, however, the Mioks wanted it more and they capitalised on our errors.”
Goroka coach Peter Danga concurred with Hukula.
“About 70% of the boys are young and inexperienced,” he said.
“At the end of the year, we became a formidable team and a force to be reckoned with.
“I thank all the boys for their effort.
“We’re looking forward to better things next year.
“We’ll come back bigger and stronger.
“I thank all our supporters here in Port Moresby and back home in Goroka.”
Enga coach Toksy Nema, who paradoxically is an Eastern Highlands, gave a vote of thanks to the vanquished.
“I must say ‘thank you’ to Goroka Lahanis for giving us a good game,” he said.
“We came here purposely to win this game and that’s exactly what we did.
“The boys played according to game plan, although they made some handling errors.
“Our training for the grand final starts today.”
Enga 18 (Jason Tali 2, James Gend, Thomas Kumgi tries; Joe Goni goal) bt Goroka 10 (Kevin Iganufa 2 tries; Walter Hasu goal). Scrums: Enga 11-7. Penalties: 7-7. Referee: Moses Tolingling (Port Moresby).

bemoble Cup kicks off

2009-06-21T18:56:00.000+10:00

Papua New Guinea’s premier rugby league competition the bemobile Cup kicked off around the country today.
In the Port Moresby game which I watched, a local derby between city teams Vipers and City Rangers, the Rangers came out on top 20-14.
Will keep you posted on the other results.

7 to 8 DIGIT NUMBERS FOR MOBILE PHONE NUMBER

2009-05-20T20:40:00.000+10:00

BMobile roadshow rolls into Madang

2009-05-18T22:20:00.005+10:00

A team of BMobile sales and marketing representatives were the centre of attraction in Madang last week (pictured) when they toured the province on a roadshow event.
The roadshow began last Monday week and was conducted over a three-day period that ended last Wednesday.
The goal and objective of the road show was to create more awareness on the 40% reduced rates offered by BMobile to current BMobile customers and potential BMobile users and to familiarise all provincial dealers on sales promotions.
The roadshow was carried out within the town itself and in areas along the North Coast Road and various markets and villages along the Madang -Lae Highway.
The Madang road show is the fourth to be staged after similar ones already conducted in Central province, Lae and Ramu Valley.

New look BMobile is the new kid on the block

2009-05-18T22:11:00.000+10:00

BMobile Limited is the new joint venture company that owns and operates the BMobile network in Papua New Guinea.
BMobile Limited has majority PNG ownership and its stakeholders include Telikom PNG, Nasfund, Nambawan Super, and PNG Sustainable Development Programme as well as overseas investors GEMS of Hong Kong, and Trilogy International Partners of the United States.
BMobile Limited was established to upgrade and expand the existing BMobile network and is currently building new facilities and network nationwide to compete in this important sector of the PNG economy.
Since its formation, BMobile has increased its network capacity by over 20%, and reduced tariffs by 40%, making it the cheapest mobile network operator in the country.
It is building over 250 new sites country-wide, a data network, and a new service platform which will deliver state-of-the-art services to consumers.
BMobile Limited is headquartered in Waigani, Port Moresby.
For more information on BMobile contact Stella Bita on 6299546 or email stella.bita@bmobile.com.pg

BMobile Cup Grand Launch

2009-05-18T20:20:00.003+10:00

A Grand Launch is scheduled to take place on Thursday June 4, 2009, at the Lamana Hotel in Port Moresby marking BMobile's taking helm as the main sponsor of the BMobile Cup, the PNG National Rugby League tournament.
BMobile is the major sponsor of the entire PNG NRL tournament this year, with SP Brewery continuing as junior sponsor.
BMobile's sponsorship will run for three years.
The Tournament will kick off on Sunday, June 14, 2009, with teams playing in Lae, Goroka, Wabag and Port Moresby.
BMobile Limited is the new joint venture company that owns and operates the BMobile network in Papua New Guinea.
BMobile Limited is majority PNG owned and its stakeholders include Telikom PNG,
Nasfund, Nambawan Super, and PNG Sustainable Development Programme as well as overseas investors GEMS of Hong Kong, and Trilogy International Partners of the United States.
BMobile Limited was established to upgrade and expand the existing BMobile network and is currently building new facilities and network nationwide to compete in this important sector of the PNG economy.
Since its formation, BMobile has increased its network capacity by over 20%, and reduced tariffs by 40%, making it the cheapest mobile network operator in the country.
It is building over 250 new sites country-wide, a data network, and a new service platform which will deliver state-of-the-art services to consumers.
BMobile Limited is headquartered in Waigani, Port Moresby.
For more information on BMobile contact Stella Bita on 325 94001 6299546 or email
stella.bita@bmobile.com.pg