National Capital District (NCD) won the CHAMPION PROVINCE Cup when it won 4 of the 9 divisional Titles during the August 27-29, 2008 first Provincial Touch Football Championship, here at Port Moresby Rugby League (PRL).

Ten provinces attended the provincial championship which included Morobe & Madang from the Momase region, East New Britain (ENB),West New Britain (WNB), New Ireland Province (NIP) & Autonomous Bougainville representing the New Guinea Islands (NGI) region, Enga from the Highlands region and NCD, Milne bay & Oro from the southern region.

Individual Divisional winners were Team Morobe Men wining the Mirupasi Lawyers Open men Title, defeating Madang 8-5, NCD open women winning the PNG Waterboard Open Women Title, after defeating Autonomous Bougainville 12-8, Enga 6-5 winners over Team WNB for the open mix division, Team ENB Senior men 9-6 winners over New Ireland and Oro under 20 boys 5-4 winners over WNB. NCD Masters defeated Team ENB after its two round robin matches whilst NCD Senior women 2 defeated NCD Senior women team1 to bag the Title whilst Team NCD under 20 girls were declared winners when only opponents Morobe failed to attend the tournament.

Sir John Dawanincura who was present during the 3 open division finals was happy with the standard displayed as his institution the PNGSFOC are responsible for the Mini SP Games to Cook Islands in May 2009. He applauded TFPNG for initiating a format for its national championships where quality was the emphasis and commended the 10 provincial teams for responding positively by their attendance at the 3-day event.

Selectors will shortly be announcing teams to represent PNG at the World Youth Cup Touch Football championships in Auckland NZ during January 15-18, 2009, the Mini SP Games in Cook Islands in May 2009 and the Masters World Cup Championships in Sydney Australia from October 15-19, 2009.

TFPNG acknowledges Team sponsors PNG Waterboard & Mirupasi Lawyers, Referees Sponsors Airline of PNG & Axellerate Sports Marketing and Trophies sponsor PDA Investments Ltd, as the major sponsors, with minor sponsors in Coco Cola, SP Brewery and Bank South Pacific. President Joseph Yore thanked the sponsors as with them this event would not have been successful and rewarding for all participants.

Team MEDIA have been praised for fair coverage of the inaugural 2008 NPTFC in particular Post Courier, The National, Sunday Chronicle, FM central and 99.5FM, EMTV and NauFM.

The second National Provincial Touch Football Championship will be in 2010 to be played in Kokopo ENBP.

This news flash story is a product of Touch football PNG. For further details contact President Joe Yore on 325-7293 or 686-3114. Thank you for being our partner in promoting human development through sports publicity.Touch is a sport for all – where all ages and genders and ability can play the sport within their own levels or categories.