Sport
21 September, 2024
Cultural footy
IN a celebration of sport and culture, AFL Cape York House and AFL Cairns hosted two under-16 teams from Papua New Guinea for a weekend of friendly competition against the AFL Cape York Crusader teams in late August.
The tri-series brought together participants from Cape York, the Torres Strait, the Gulf of Carpentaria, Cairns, and Papua New Guinea in a unique four-team competition for boys and girls.
Games were played at Cazalys Stadium and Buchan Street Reserve, the home of Cairns Eagles FC.
AFL Cape York House general manager Rick Hanlon said the event was, not just about football, but about using sport as a connection point to foster deeper relationships and cultural understanding.
“This wasn’t just about playing football. It was about engaging our closest international neighbour, Papua New Guinea, to come together in the spirit of friendship and culture,” Mr Hanlon said.
“Football was the vehicle, but the highlight was the way it brought us together to celebrate our diverse backgrounds.”
The weekend was filled with exciting match-ups, particularly noting the Papua New Guinean teams’ agility and speed, which kept the games lively and entertaining.
The tournament's main attraction, however, took place off the field on Saturday night with a cultural feast at AFL Cape York House for Boys. More than 200 people gathered to enjoy a spread of traditional Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and Papua New Guinean foods, generously prepared by the PNG and Wantoks Association Cairns and staff from AFL Cape York.
“We had well over 200 people in attendance – players, officials and some guests,” Mr Hanlon said.
“We shared in song, we shared dance and food. It was just fantastic.”
Another standout moment came during the presentation of the coaches’ awards, where a Papua New Guinean player was recognised for embodying the values of cultural connection, respect, and relationship-building.
