PNG Olympic Committee

Congratulations to the PNG Boxing Union and their athletes for not only competing in the 2026 Kokoda Cup Challenge, but also reclaiming the Kokoda Cup title for 2026. This achievement reflects the team’s discipline, resilience, and commitment to honouring the Kokoda spirit — a legacy of courage, endurance, comradery, and sacrifice.

This year’s Kokoda Cup Challenge welcomed teams from New South Wales and Queensland, who travelled to Papua New Guinea to participate in this important annual event. Their involvement elevated the level of competition and strengthened the sporting ties shared across the region.

The Kokoda Cup Challenge remains one of PNG’s most significant boxing fixtures, providing a platform for emerging and elite boxers to test their skills, showcase national pride, and uphold the historical connection to the Kokoda Track. Reclaiming the title reinforces PNG Boxing’s upward trajectory and the depth of talent within the national program.

🇵🇬🇵🇬🇵🇬

Thank You, Oro Province.🦋

As Kicks 4 Kokoda prepares to leave Popondetta, we do so with grateful hearts, taking with us cherished memories, new friendships, and the incredible spirit of Oro.

Over the past week, we have had the privilege of learning with and from communities across the province while sharing the values of Honesty, Excellence, Respect, and Openness through sport. We extend our sincere thanks to Awala Primary School, Kiorota Primary School, Gorari Primary School, Kebara Primary School, and Kokoda Primary School for welcoming us into your communities and making us feel at home.

To every student, teacher, parent, and community member who participated, thank you for embracing the program with enthusiasm, sportsmanship, and a commitment to the HERO values. Your energy, kindness, and willingness to learn challenged us to become better versions of ourselves as well.

To the children, continue striving for Excellence, living with Honesty and integrity, remaining Open to new ideas, and showing Respect for yourselves, your families, your communities, your province, and your country. You are the future of Papua New Guinea. The choices you make today help shape the person you will become tomorrow.

We would also like to acknowledge our partners and your partners; Oro People With Disability Organisation, COMDEV and Oro CIMC, , and the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the for their continued support in empowering communities through the power of sport. Special thanks to our drivers, Jacob, Adrian, David, and Karu for their dedication throughout the week, and to Suh Lodge and Daito for their hospitality.

Finally, thank you to everyone who has followed and supported the program online. May these stories continue to inspire us all to work together towards a brighter future.

OROKAIVA!

Kicks 4 Kokoda wrapped up its final tournament day at Kokoda Primary School on 29 May 2026 with a celebration of football, learning, and community spirit.

Students gathered under the warm Kokoda sun as teams representing Honesty, Excellence, Respect, and Openness announced their arrival with powerful war cries, marching onto the field to welcome the K4K team and HERO athletes. Teachers and Skillz Coaches kept the atmosphere lively throughout the day with music, dancing, and encouragement from the sidelines.

Beyond the football field, students visited educational booths promoting important community messages. At the Oro Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council (CIMC) booth, children learnt about their rights, the laws that protect them, and where they can seek help when treated unfairly. Mr Humphry Bainda, Vice Chair of the Oro People With Disability Organisation (OPD), also shared his experiences and perspectives, helping students better understand how Persons With Disability can be respected, supported, and included in everyday life.

While younger children enjoyed mini-games facilitated by the PNG Football Association's Just Play Team, older students competed in an exciting football tournament. Team Excellence emerged as champions, with Respect finishing runners-up, while Openness defeated Honesty to claim third place. Across all matches, students displayed impressive skill, teamwork, and sportsmanship in the true spirit of football.

The day concluded with an awards ceremony, where the K4K team reinforced the Team PNG HERO values of Honesty, Excellence, Respect, and Openness, encouraging students to carry these values into their daily lives and communities.

A big thank you to Kokoda Primary School and the Kokoda community for their warm hospitality and for embracing the program with such enthusiasm and community pride. We also acknowledge our partners , , and the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the for their continued support in building and empowering communities through the power of sport.

Kicks 4 Kokoda visited Kebara Primary School on Thursday, 28 May 2026, where students, teachers, and the wider community turned out in full spirit for a memorable day of football, teamwork, and learning.

From the very beginning, the atmosphere at Kebara was vibrant as students representing the four Team PNG values — Honesty, Excellence, Respect, and Openness — proudly introduced themselves with energetic and creative kilos. As part of “Skillz Culture,” a kilo is a fun and expressive way for teams to praise and encourage one another, and the students of Kebara Primary School embraced it wholeheartedly. What stood out most throughout the day was the sportsmanship shown by the children, with teams cheering not only for their own players but also for their opponents, even in defeat. It was inspiring to see young students supporting and uplifting one another regardless of the results on the field.

Alongside the football tournament, community members and participating teams visited the KTF health booth and a stall hosted by the Oro Organisation of People With Disability (OPD), where children learnt the importance of treating People With Disability with dignity, respect, and inclusion. The day also featured two friendly matches between the K4K HERO athletes and a combined side of teachers, Skillz coaches, and parents, adding even more excitement to the event.

On the field, Team Openness defeated Excellence in the grand final. More importantly, the tournament gave children the opportunity to practice the Team PNG values of Honesty, Excellence, Respect, and Openness through a full day of teamwork, competition, and community spirit.

Kicks 4 Kokoda thanks Kebara Primary School and its community for their warm hospitality and for making the day truly memorable. Special thanks also go to , , the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the , and the PNG Football Association Just Play Team for their continued support in helping deliver the Kicks 4 Kokoda program, building communities and empowering youth through the power of sport.

Kicks 4 Kokoda was at Gorari Primary School yesterday, the 28th of May.

The children braved the weather, which thankfully turned for the better after lunch when the tournament kicked off. K4K brought laughter, excitement, and plenty of energy into the small school as the younger grades learnt from Paralympian Manega Tapari about how Persons With Disability participate in sport through modified mini games that demonstrated some of the challenges para athletes overcome in competition.

Manega and the PNG Football Association Just Play team kept the younger children engaged and excited through football-focused mini games and ball activities, while our Team PNG HERO athletes led the four teams — Honesty, Excellence, Respect, and Openness — onto the field for a fun but highly competitive tournament. Team Respect came out on top as the overall winners!

Mr. Humphry Bainda, Vice Chair of the Oro People With Disability Organisation (OPD), spoke to the school during the awards ceremony, sharing with the students and community that Persons With Disability have the same rights as able-bodied people and that we should not define someone by their disability, but instead see them as fellow human beings. K4K also spoke about how the HERO values of Honesty, Excellence, Respect, and Openness can help guide us to better ourselves and the communities around us.

We thank Gorari Primary School and its surrounding community for warmly welcoming us.

A special thank you to our partners , , and the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the for their continued support in empowering youth and communities through sport.

A fun-filled day at Kiorota Primary School here in Popondetta!

Kicks 4 Kokoda was out at Kiorota today and was met with excitement and so much energy from the students. The team of HERO Athletes received a warm welcome from the kids, and it was wonderful to see parents and members of the community out in support of both the program and their children.

The school was divided into four groups, each representing a Team PNG HERO value. Together, the acronym spells HERO — Honesty, Excellence, Respect, and Openness.

All teams fought hard throughout the tournament, but it was Respect and Excellence that advanced to the finals. After an intense match ended scoreless, the finalists went into a penalty shootout, where Excellence came out on top with a thrilling 3–2 victory over Respect.

At the same time, the PNGFA Just Play Team engaged younger students in football-focused mini games and other fun ball activities. Paralympian Manega Tapari also introduced badminton to the children, one of the three sports she plays competitively.

Children and community members also visited three awareness stations set up by KTF’s Health Team, Community Development (COMDEV), and the Organisation of People with Disabilities (OPD). At these stations, participants learned about HIV and AIDS awareness, gender-based violence, child violence prevention, and the importance of accepting and treating people with disabilities for who they are, rather than defining them by their disabilities.

It was truly a fun and educational day for everyone involved.

We would like to thank the school and the Kiorota community for welcoming us, as well as the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Team Up program, KTF and partners, and Grassroot Soccer for their continued support in building and strengthening communities through sport.