By Patrick Mu’uh Panamex Pacific PNG Ltd is preparing to host the third edition of its annual Panamex Community Cup soccer tournament. This community event will commence during the Easter long weekend, aiming to keep young people busy and promote healthy activities through sports. The company has been in Papua New Guinea for over 50 years, and as part of its ongoing community engagement, Panamex supports various initiatives, including sports, hospital visits, and rural outreach programs. The soccer tournament is one of its key programs and was first launched during the company’s 50th anniversary two years ago (2023). Simon Hani, the company’s National Marketing Manager, said the tournament helps connect the company with people and communities in rural areas. “We’ve been doing this community program for a few years now,” Mr Hani said. “Sports is one of the ways we reach out to youths, especially during holidays and long weekends, to keep them away from trouble and involved in something positive.” He said the company has invested nearly K20,000 into this year’s tournament, and that registration fees are set at K700 for men’s teams and K500 for women’s teams. He added that the money raised from team registrations would be reinvested into supporting local clubs and other community needs. The Panamex Community Cup is being hosted in partnership with the Lae Football Association (LFA), which will be hosted at the LFA Park. This year, the tournament is open to all interested teams, unlike previous years where only selected teams were invited. So far, teams from Waria, Bulolo, Mumeng, Zenag, and Lae have registered. The games will include both men’s and women’s divisions. Valentine Nelson, the tournament Organizing Chairman, said this is the first time a women’s competition is included. “We want to give everyone an equal chance to take part, including women and rural teams,” Mr Nelson said. “It’s a family-friendly event, and we expect good participation from both city and rural teams.” Nelson added that there are cash prizes for the top three winners in both divisions. The men’s champion will receive K5,000 and the Cup, while the second and third places will get K3,000 and K2,000 with trophies respectively. In the women’s division, the winner will receive K3,000, while second and third place teams will take home K2,000 and K1,000 plus trophies respectively. The tournament will run for five days, starting on Thursday, April 17, and ending on Monday, April 21, with the grand final. Games will be 80 minutes long, with two 40-minute halves. Alex Toki, Lae Football Association (LFA) General Secretary, said the tournament also plays an important role in football development in Morobe. “This is more than just a tournament. It’s a platform for young players to be seen, to be inspired, and to be given a chance to grow in football,” Mr Toki said. Panamex has also supported other sporting codes such as cricket, tennis, and volleyball. The company plans to continue its support and introduce new sports programs in the province and across the country in the future.