The PNG Kapuls arrived back home over the weekend following a successful campaign in the 2024 MSG Prime Minister's Cup tournament in Honiara, Solomon Islands where the boys took home the title. Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology and Sport, Kinoka Feo, has come out to congratulate the PNG Football Team, the Kapuls, for their victory. “The Kapuls demonstrated remarkable focus and determination, bringing home the title with a performance that every Papua New Guinean can be proud of,” Feo said. The Kapuls claimed the title after a hard-fought 2-1 win against Vanuatu on Saturday, showcasing exceptional sportsmanship throughout the tournament. Minister Feo praised the team for representing Papua New Guinea with pride and resilience. The victory followed a thrilling 3-2 triumph over the host nation, Solomon Islands, last Thursday. The win against the reigning champions, supported by their passionate home crowd, boosted PNG’s confidence and set the stage for their final push. Earlier in the tournament, PNG opened with a narrow 1-0 victory over the Solomon Islands Development Team and secured a 1-all draw against Fiji, keeping them in contention for the title. With New Caledonia withdrawing from the competition, the winner was determined by points accumulated during the round-robin matches. This year’s win marks a significant comeback for the Kapuls, who finished fourth in last year’s tournament in Noumea, New Caledonia. Minister Feo acknowledged the team’s improvement, calling it a “memorable performance.” Due to commitments in Sydney for the recent PNG Investment Week, Minister Feo could not attend the tournament’s opening. However, he noted the symbolic significance of the Kapuls’ success alongside the historic announcement of PNG’s entry into the National Rugby League (NRL) in 2028. “Our PNG team entering the NRL in 2028 is more like a Melanesian team entering NRL so our fan base can be spread as far as Solomon Islands, Fiji and Vanuatu who are contesting the MSG Prime Ministers Cup,” Feo said. Looking ahead, Minister Feo announced that PNG will host the 2025 MSG Prime Minister’s Cup as part of the nation’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations. “This will be a special event for PNG, and we aim to make it a memorable one,” Feo stated. The Kapuls’ victory is a proud moment for Papua New Guinea, underscoring the country’s growing presence in regional sports and its potential to inspire future generations. As the team prepares to defend their title on home soil next year, their success serves as a testament to the unifying power of sports in PNG and the wider Melanesian region.