PNG KICKBOXING FEDERATION MOURNS THE LOSS OF SPORTS TITAN RONNIE JOHN MEA

The President of the PNG Kickboxing Federation (PNGKBF), Stanley Nandex MBE ML,  on behalf of the executive board, athletes, and the wider kickboxing fraternity,  expresses profound sorrow following the passing of esteemed sports administrator, the Late Ronnie Mea, on March 9th, 2026.

The Late Ronnie John Mea was a cornerstone of the PNG Sports Foundation, serving the nation with a level of dedication that set the gold standard for sports administration in Papua New Guinea. His sudden departure is a monumental loss to the entire sporting landscape in the country.

For decades, Mea was the "engine room" behind many National Federations. He was a man of immense patience and professional integrity who navigated the complexities of sports governance to ensure that athletes always came first.

PNGKBF Founding President Stanley Nandex paid tribute to Mr. Mea, acknowledging his contribution to sports in PNG, especially basketball: "Ronnie was a true brother in sports.

“Recalling back in the early days of the SP Games in Tahiti in 1995, where we all played different sports when he was the start of basketball. 

"He didn't just sit behind a desk having the practical experience about what the athletes required; he understood the heartbeat of the clubs and the struggles of the athletes in the settlements and rural areas. 

“His influence and guidance were instrumental in the growth of sports within NCDC, and across the country, and he was always there to provide the administrative support, as well as coaching and mentoring athletes locally and sending them on the international stage."

The PNGKBF joins the CEO of PNG Sports Foundation, the PNG Olympic Committee,  and all 40-plus National Sporting Federations in mourning. Ronnie’s influence has reached the Southern Region and every province, from the smallest grassroots clubs to the highest international podium.

The PNGKBF extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of the Late  Ronnie John Mea. We thank you for the sacrifices you have made in allowing him to spend so much of his life building the dreams of our nation’s youth.

His name will be etched in the history of PNG sports as a man who built the foundation upon which our champions stand.

May His Soul Rest in Eternal Peace.