The Sugu Valley Basketball Association hosted its inaugural Christmas Peace Basketball Tournament from December 21-29, 2024, in the Katiloma village of Sugu Valley LLG, Kagua-Erave District, Southern Highlands Province.
A few years ago, hundreds of people lost their lives and properties in the Sugu Valley LLG after a bloody tribal fight between different clans living in the valley.
Seeing the dilemma of the people during their rebuilding phase, a group of young men took the initiative to host the basketball tournament, aiming to bring peace and unite the people of Sugu Valley.
A total of 28 teams (14 men’s & 14 women’s) had participated in the first-ever peace tourney to showcase their skills and compete for the trophies, including cash prizes.
Both Yakira teams won the inaugural tournament, with cash prizes worth K700 each. The runners-up received K500, while the participating teams walked away with K200 consolation money.
Samuel Tasa, a local young man from Katiloma village, mobilized the youths to coordinate the one-week sporting event, purposely to bring peace and give exposure to the raw and emerging basketball talents.
Tasa expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the peace tournament, thanking the sponsors and participating teams, with their supporters for behaving themselves throughout the one-week event.
“I’m very happy about myself and my team for hosting this peace tournament. I’m too young to organize such games, but I’m thankful that we’ve run it successfully without any disturbance or problem,” he said.
“My view for the tournament is that we’ve started it on a good note and ended it peacefully. I’m so proud and hope that we will host a bigger and better tournament during the Christmas period of 2025.”
In addition, a couple of selectors from Mendi Menjals Basketball Association were on the ground to scout the best players and mentor them to become the next ambassadors of basketball in the province (SHP).
“The Mendi Menjals coach Nelson Wasano and captain Daniel Ruma were at the tournament to witness the finals and scout a few outstanding players from both the men’s and women’s divisions,” Tasa said.
Furthermore, Tasa revealed that the Sugu Valley Basketball Association's next plan was to register and affiliate the association with the Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea (BFPNG) this year.
Tasa said with or without sponsorship backing this year, he would like to invite teams within SHP to take part in the tournament, ensuring to host the tourney every Christmas.
“I am not prepared to host any friendly games this year, but we are planning to invite other teams from SHP to participate in the basketball tournament at Christmas,” he highlighted.
“The tournament will continue every Christmas if the sponsors are available to support it. However, if no sponsors come on board to support us, I will try my best to host the tournament this year and into the future.”
With the experience gained from hosting the first-ever Sugu Valley Christmas Peace Basketball Tournament from December 21-29, 2024, Samuel Tasa and his small committee look forward to staging a bigger and better tournament during the 2025 festive season.
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