JS Commodity takes naming rights of Sepik Nines to drive youth development

JS Commodity has taken over the naming rights and major sponsorship of the annual Sepik Nines rugby league tournament, injecting new momentum into the competition as a platform to positively engage youths in the Sepik region.

Managing Director John Simon said the K55,000 sponsorship reflects the company’s commitment to giving back to the Sepik communities, particularly through youth development, at a time when law and order issues involving young people continue to rise.

Simon said sports remain one of the most effective pathways to steer youths away from crime and anti-social behaviour and towards discipline, teamwork, and opportunity.

“Youths can either lift this country up or tear it apart,” Simon said. “Unless we all; leaders, senior citizens, business houses, step in to show young people another pathway, the situation will continue to worsen.”

He said nearly 80 per cent of Papua New Guinea’s population is made up of young people, making youth engagement a national responsibility rather than a task solely for police or politicians.

Simon pointed to recent road hold-ups along the Nuku, Lumi, Maprik highways as an example of how youth frustration is manifesting into crime, saying that sport can play a critical role in changing mindsets.

“Law and order is not just a police issue, it is everyone’s problem. One way we can assist is through sports, by investing in our youths and giving them something positive to focus on,” he said.

Under the sponsorship agreement, JS Commodity has committed K55,000 to support this year’s Sepik Nines tournament. Simon also revealed plans to sponsor Sepik Pride next year as the team works towards entering the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup competition.

He said the company’s connection to the Sepik region runs deep, with all the Robusta coffee used in JS Blended Coffee sourced exclusively from East and West Sepik.

“For us, this sponsorship is about creating a pathway for today’s youths and ensuring we leave this country on a better path in the next 20 to 50 years,” Simon said.

Sepik Nines representative Isaiah Monoumbi welcomed the sponsorship, saying it will significantly boost the tournament and youth-focused sporting programs in the province.

“It is our greatest pleasure and honour to have one of our own companies come on board to support Sepik Nines,” Monoumbi said. “This program is about changing the mindset of our young generation and building good citizens and role models through sport.”

He said youth involvement in sports helps reduce social issues across communities by promoting discipline, time management, and positive values.

Monoumbi also acknowledged the continued support of Agmark and the East Sepik Governor’s Office, towards the Sepik Nines initiative for the consistency over the past five years.

“With partnerships like this, we believe Sepik Nines will continue into the future and remain a strong vehicle for youth development in the province,” he said.

12 teams outside the Sepik region have confirmed participation with hosts slotting in eight teams. Winner of the sixth edition of Sepik 9s will pocked K25,000, runners up will take home K15,000 and third-place team settles for K10,000.