21/12/2025
A New Chapter of Unity and Celebration: 2025 NCD Governor’s Cup Launched🎊🥳
The Sir Hubert Murray Stadium came alive on 19 December 2025 as the 2025 NCD Governor’s Cup was officially launched. Marking not just the beginning of another sporting calendar, but the celebration of unity, inclusivity, and community spirit through sport.
The launch brought together representatives from rugby, soccer, and netball, alongside invited dignitaries and stakeholders, all gathered under one shared vision: to use sport as a powerful platform to connect people across the nation’s capital.
Speaking on behalf of PNG Netball Federation President Ulato. Avei and the Board, PNG Netball
Federation CEO Lynette Maha expressed heartfelt appreciation for the inclusion of netball in this year’s NCD Governor’s Cup. She described the decision as a meaningful acknowledgment of the importance of
community and grassroots netball, where the game is not only enjoyed but where future stars are discovered.
“Community sports is for enjoyment, but it is also where raw talent is found,” she shared, emphasizing that netball remains the largest women’s sport in Papua New Guinea. In words that resonated deeply with many, she proudly stated, “Planti Mama, Planti Susa, Planti Pikinini Meri, ol sa pilai Netball.”
Her message reflected the heart of netball in PNG, a sport that lives in communities, families, and generations of women and girls.
Ms. Maha further echoed the 2025 NCD Governor’s Cup theme: Play.Connect.Celebrate. Encouraging all participants and supporters, she reminded everyone to enjoy through playing, connect through making new friends, and celebrate safely, reinforcing the true spirit of the tournament.
Delivering his welcoming address, NCD Governor Hon. Powes Parkop warmly acknowledged all sporting
codes present and the distinguished guests in attendance. He highlighted the significance of expanding the Governor’s Cup to include netball, noting that the sport holds a unique and valued place in society. “Netball is one of the most popular sports in our city and across the country,” he said. “It is almost exclusively, otherwise, 100 percent played by women and girls. That is why it is important to bring
them into the equation.”
Governor Parkop emphasized that the inclusion of netball is part of a broader vision to bring the city together, uniting men and women, boys and girls, across 1,000 tribes and 806 languages. He reminded the audience that even when the tournament comes to an end, its greatest achievement is already realized, thousands of people connected and united through sport.
In his address, the Governor also announced the Netball tournament’s prize structure, underscoring the commitment to rewarding excellence and participation:
• K50,000 to be shared among Cup finalists (1st, 2nd, and 3rd placers)🏆
• K30,000 to be shared among Plate finalists (1st, 2nd, and 3rd runners-up)🥈
• K20,000 to be shared among Bowl finalists (1st, 2nd, and 3rd runners-up)🥉
The launch was officially sealed in a powerful and symbolic moment as the Governor and representatives from each sport kicked their respective balls into the air, signalling the start of a tournament built on hope, inclusivity, and shared celebration.
The 2025 NCD Governor’s Cup stands as more than just a competition, it is a reminder that sport has the power to unite communities, uplift voices, and celebrate the rich diversity of Port Moresby and Papua New Guinea as a whole.🇵🇬
