Bank South Pacific (BSP) has come on board as a sponsor and will contribute PGK 50,000 to the cause as Papua New Guinea look to make their mark at the tournament, which takes place in the Solomon Islands capital Honiara from 1-10 June.
As part of the deal, the bank has also received naming rights for the team and revealed it will now be known as PNG Kundu.
A cheque was presented by Peter Beswick, Bank South Pacific general manager for corporate banking, to Papua New Guinea Football Association senior vice-president John Kapi Natto in the presence of team members and media personnel this week at the Hubert Murray Stadium in Port Moresby.
It is not the first time the bank has backed football in Papua New Guinea, having previously supported Hekari United’s campaign at the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2010 and the men’s U-17 national team that travelled to New Zealand to compete in the OFC championships in 2010.
As well as the financial assistance, BSP has donated bags, t-shirts, water bottles, hats and balls to the Papua New Guinea players as they enter the final stage on their path to the Nations Cup.
“We are grateful for the support BSP has given,” Kapi Natto says.
“It will be tough because we will play three of the region’s other strong teams in our group but we are confident the boys will give their best and bring back pride to our football fans in the country.”
Beswick is pleased to be supporting Papua New Guinea football once more and sees the bank’s role in the community as a major responsibility.
“BSP is committed to not only supporting the local community but also supporting and encouraging sports in the country, particularly football,” he says.
“We are proud to be sponsors of the national football team in their endeavours.”
The squad spent over a fortnight at a training camp in Lae this month and has now departed for Australia to play a series of warm-up matches en route to Honiara.
The Frank Farina-coached side will meet Solomon Islands on 2 June in its opening Nations Cup match before facing remaining Group B opponents New Zealand (4 June) and Fiji (6 June).
For more on Papua New Guinea football go to www.pngfootball.com.pg

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