Muruks rugby team to star in Mendi celebrations
By KEVIN PAMBA
The 32nd Independence anniversary celebrations for the people of Southern Highlands province is expected to be boosted by the parading of the SP Cup and the victorious Mabey and Johnson Muruks team in Mendi town this weekend.
This follows a suggestion by the Mendi MP Pastor Isaac Joseph before the Muruks took the field for the SP Cup grand final against minor premiers Agmark Gurias last Sunday.
Pastor Joseph told the Muruks during their pre-match team talk at Bluff Inn Motel at 17 Mile outside Port Moresby last Sunday that there is nothing stopping them from winning the SP Cup and taking it home to Mendi to join the 600,000 people of Southern Highlands in the independence anniversary celebrations.
The 600,000 Southern Highlanders have faith in you 17 players who will take the field this afternoon to win and take the Cup home to celebrate Independence with them, Pastor Isaac said.
Pastor Isaac delivered an inspirational talk to the Muruks along with others who were at the team camp as he handed over K10,000 to Muruks captain Joseph Omae on behalf of Governor Anderson Agiru and his colleague MPs from the province.
The pastor-cum-MPs faith in the boys was no fluke as the Muruks mesmerized the Agmark Gurias 42-6 to claim a back-to-back premiership in the prestigious SP Cup competition.
Along with the wishes of the Member for Mendi on behalf his colleague MPs and the governor, the Muruks are expected to be in Mendi during the long Independence weekend.
Injured skipper, Stanley Hondina said this week that the Muruks are awaiting confirmation of the activities in Mendi by the provincial officials before the team departs for Mendi from their base in Lae.
Hondina said the team is set to go to Mendi to be with the people.
He said the team expects to parade around Mendi town with the SP Cup next Monday, which is a public holiday in lieu of the Independence Day that falls on Sunday.
Pastor Joseph told the Muruks that their back-to-back victory should add colour to the big Independence Anniversary celebrations planned for Mendi.
He said the Muruks carry the pride and name of the 600,000 Southern Highlanders and they must hold their heads high.
The Muruks won the back-to-back premiership becoming the first team in the SP Cup win with the biggest ever score line of 42-6 for a grand final since the semi-professional competition was launched in 1990.
The Southern Highlands franchise is also the second team in the competition to a win a back to back premiership after Port Moresby Vipers in 1990 and 1991 and the first franchise from the Highlands to do so.
The Muruks massive victory last Sunday rode on the back of huge support from supporters who traveled into Port Moresby from across the country.
The MP for Mendi said supporters sold their garden food, pigs and whatever they had to get an airline ticket to Port Moresby to support their home team.
They did this not because you (the Muruks players) will give them anything.
They just want to watch you play and win and return home to their villages across the valleys, rivers and mountains happy and proud, said Pastor Joseph.
Meanwhile the Muruks will celebrate the Independence with their people with the good news that the owner of Mabey and Johnson, David Mabey has announced the companys renewed commitment to support the team for as long as it is in PNG.
Mabey spoke to The National after the grand final victory that the people of Southern Highlands and the Muruks team have been good to Mabey and Johnson and the company will stick with them.
He said the Muruks are the first sports team the international steel bridge building company has supported anywhere in the world it operates.
The 32nd Independence anniversary celebrations for the people of Southern Highlands province is expected to be boosted by the parading of the SP Cup and the victorious Mabey and Johnson Muruks team in Mendi town this weekend.
This follows a suggestion by the Mendi MP Pastor Isaac Joseph before the Muruks took the field for the SP Cup grand final against minor premiers Agmark Gurias last Sunday.
Pastor Joseph told the Muruks during their pre-match team talk at Bluff Inn Motel at 17 Mile outside Port Moresby last Sunday that there is nothing stopping them from winning the SP Cup and taking it home to Mendi to join the 600,000 people of Southern Highlands in the independence anniversary celebrations.
The 600,000 Southern Highlanders have faith in you 17 players who will take the field this afternoon to win and take the Cup home to celebrate Independence with them, Pastor Isaac said.
Pastor Isaac delivered an inspirational talk to the Muruks along with others who were at the team camp as he handed over K10,000 to Muruks captain Joseph Omae on behalf of Governor Anderson Agiru and his colleague MPs from the province.
The pastor-cum-MPs faith in the boys was no fluke as the Muruks mesmerized the Agmark Gurias 42-6 to claim a back-to-back premiership in the prestigious SP Cup competition.
Along with the wishes of the Member for Mendi on behalf his colleague MPs and the governor, the Muruks are expected to be in Mendi during the long Independence weekend.
Injured skipper, Stanley Hondina said this week that the Muruks are awaiting confirmation of the activities in Mendi by the provincial officials before the team departs for Mendi from their base in Lae.
Hondina said the team is set to go to Mendi to be with the people.
He said the team expects to parade around Mendi town with the SP Cup next Monday, which is a public holiday in lieu of the Independence Day that falls on Sunday.
Pastor Joseph told the Muruks that their back-to-back victory should add colour to the big Independence Anniversary celebrations planned for Mendi.
He said the Muruks carry the pride and name of the 600,000 Southern Highlanders and they must hold their heads high.
The Muruks won the back-to-back premiership becoming the first team in the SP Cup win with the biggest ever score line of 42-6 for a grand final since the semi-professional competition was launched in 1990.
The Southern Highlands franchise is also the second team in the competition to a win a back to back premiership after Port Moresby Vipers in 1990 and 1991 and the first franchise from the Highlands to do so.
The Muruks massive victory last Sunday rode on the back of huge support from supporters who traveled into Port Moresby from across the country.
The MP for Mendi said supporters sold their garden food, pigs and whatever they had to get an airline ticket to Port Moresby to support their home team.
They did this not because you (the Muruks players) will give them anything.
They just want to watch you play and win and return home to their villages across the valleys, rivers and mountains happy and proud, said Pastor Joseph.
Meanwhile the Muruks will celebrate the Independence with their people with the good news that the owner of Mabey and Johnson, David Mabey has announced the companys renewed commitment to support the team for as long as it is in PNG.
Mabey spoke to The National after the grand final victory that the people of Southern Highlands and the Muruks team have been good to Mabey and Johnson and the company will stick with them.
He said the Muruks are the first sports team the international steel bridge building company has supported anywhere in the world it operates.
