Pictured: Borderzone Soccer Team from Panguna with BCL VLO Benedict Ienu
Bougainville Copper was delighted to sponsor the Panguna Borderzone soccer team, which competed in the Championship round of the Besta Cup in Arawa between the 6-12th August.
BCL Village Liaison Officer Benedict Ienu from Moroni in Panguna, presented the team with K2500 to help with their expenses throughout the tournament.
The team played with great skill and integrity, reaching the semi-finals and unfortunately just missing out on advancing further with a fighting 2-0 loss to Arawa team 2. A highlight of the week was Borderzone’s game against Lihir, which was a nail biter and had spectators on their feet cheering until the final second of what ended in a one-all draw.
Borderzone is comprised of youths from the Lower, Middle and Upper Tailings Areas of Panguna. Based on their tournament performances, these talented young men certainly have bright futures ahead of them.
This is the first time the Besta Cup has been held in Bougainville. Fourteen teams from various soccer associations from within the Autonomous Bougainville Region travelled to Arawa for the tournament.
Bougainville Copper is a strong supporter of grass-roots sport within the region, believing in the positive benefits it brings to the lives of young people and the role it plays in creating unity within communities.