Prime Minister’s Golden Jubilee Oldies Basketball Challenge Launched

The Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea (BFPNG) launched its new competition called the Prime Minister’s Golden Jubilee Oldies Challenge yesterday night (May 6th) at Sir John Guise Stadium Indoor Complex.

An exhibition match was played between the Prime Minister’s 40 and the Legends to kick off the 2025 challenge. The oldies entertained the crowd, showcasing flashes of brilliance and bringing back some fond memories of the bygone era.

Team Legends consisted of the PNG basketball household names - such as Moi Muri, Willie Simoi, Albert Moide, Morris Asiba, and Wokave Horobe, to name a few - while the PM’s 40 comprised Prime Minister James Marape, former MP and BFPNG Patron Charles Abel, former Works Secretary David Wereh, BFPNG President David Peter, PNGFA President John Kapi Natto, and PEB Director Lawrence Lahari. 

To commemorate PNG’s 50th Anniversary in September, Prime Minister Honorable James Marape came up with this initiative in collaboration with BFPNG under the theme: "Reconnecting to Passion”, aiming to rekindle fond memories and honor PNG basketball legends.   

The PM’s Golden Jubilee Oldies challenge will feature former PNG basketball representatives or players who are above 40 years of age to participate in the new amateur competition every week until September.

Prime Minister James Marape expressed satisfaction, mentioning that they would also start senior competitions for soccer and touch rugby, encouraging everyone to take part in the challenge.

“We have this competition for those above 40. We are starting with basketball, but we will introduce soccer and touch rugby later. We want to engage seniors to participate in these competitions to keep themselves fit and healthy,” Marape said.

The PM’s Golden Jubilee Oldies challenge will run concurrently alongside the Port Moresby Elite Basketball (PEB) competition, with their respective finals scheduled to take place during the first week of September.