15 hours Ago By Reinhard Minong
THE Kokopo City Basketball League (KCBL) is back on the courts, bouncing into its second weekend on Saturday of their pre-season games as they gear up for their second season. What started as a grassroots effort by basketball enthusiasts in the Kokopo district has now become the only active basketball competition in the East New Britain province, officially affiliated with the Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea (BFPNG). Launched last year at Kalabond Basketball Courts, the league initially had 10 teams competing across three divisions – four men’s teams, four women’s teams and two U19 teams, all from within Kokopo district.
This year, interest remains strong, with six men’s teams and four women’s teams already confirming their participation. The U19 and junior divisions are yet to finalise their entries, but the momentum continues to build after the pre-season games got underway on March 1. However, growing the game in a province dominated by rugby league and rugby union has been an uphill battle.
“The biggest challenge is the shortage of athletes because most children and youths in East New Britain are focused on rugby,” said KCBL president Brendan Ronald. Despite this, Ronald and his team remain determined to revive the basketball culture in the province, believing that with time and effort, the sport can carve out its own place in the hearts of young athletes in this rugby craze province. Yet, beyond player recruitment, the greatest obstacle the league faces is financial support.
“When we started last year, it was just us, the youths of Kokopo, digging into our own pockets to affiliate with BFPNG to get the league off the ground,” Ronald shared. “We have major sponsors, and last year, the only support we received was from the Kokopo City Mayor during the grand final presentation. “Now, as the league pushes ahead into season two, the KCBL is calling on local businesses and the provincial government to step in.
“Anything is something, a small contribution to help sustain the competition. “Basketball keeps our youths engaged, active, and away from trouble. “Any form of support big or small, will go a long way in keeping this dream alive,” Ronald emphasised.
With the regular season set to tip off soon, KCBL is also extending an open invitation to new teams interested in joining the 2025 season, thus ensuring that basketball in East New Britain continues to grow, one game at a time..
