By BRADLEY MARIORI
A foreign owned supermarket operating at Zenag station in Bulolo, Surpass Supermarket has backed Mumeng Centers Football Club in the 2026 Sam Basil Jr Soccer Cup.
This year will also be the second time for this team to take part in this tournament.
The Surpass Supermarket management said they feel that they are a part of the community and so supporting the young people of Mumeng is a great way to show their commitment to community development in Mumeng LLG.
The Surpass Supermarket management provided four soccer boots, 17 pairs of socks as well as food items.
“Our stock for soccer boots is yet to arrive so we only gave four but our aim was to give a boot each to all the players on the team,” the management said during the presentation.
The Team was put together this year and also supported by Michaelyn Cholai from the United Labor Party Morobe Branch who registered the team for K300.
“This team is an underdog team that has been put together last minute and so it is only proper that we make certain that they are able to play,” Cholai said.
Bulolo based Journalist Zebedee Giame also backed the team providing rations for them to camp at Mapos village in Buang LLG for the duration of the tournament.
“Sports is an avenue that acts a vehicle to address issue across a range of social sectors and we getting behind them is about providing an opportunity for them to build the values of cooperation, teamwork, and most importantly respect for self and others,” Giame said.
Mumeng Centers Club captain Andrew Rambing said most of his players have played local soccer tournaments around Mumeng LLG only.
“This will be the first for most of the boys and we are thankful that there are people in our community who are always ready to support our young people drive positive change at the community level,” the captain said.
He confirmed his team is already on the ground, registered and took the field today.
The tournament is in its fourth year running and officials from the organizers have confirmed that the number of teams participating this year has grown to include teams from outside of Buang LLG.
Organizers have also expressed their gratitude to Bulolo MP Sam Basil Jr for being the champion sponsor of this tournament over the years.
Bulolo MP Sam Basil Jr is also in Buang at his home village and will be watching local talents in soccer throughout this tournament.
