JAYAPURA – The Governor of Papua, Matius Fakhiri, officially opened the Papua Top Scorers League 2025 for the U-10 and U-12 categories, held at Asri Field, Kampung Nafri, Jayapura, on October 24, 2025.

The event marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to build Papua’s golden generation through sports development, particularly in football.

In his remarks, Governor Fakhiri reaffirmed the local government’s commitment to reviving the spirit of sports in Papua. He emphasized that Papuan children possess tremendous athletic potential that must be nurtured seriously from an early age.

“Papua has many talented children. Let’s not just talk about it—let’s take real action. We must create more competitions like this so that ten years from now, we’ll have great athletes from Papua,” said Governor Fakhiri.

The Governor also underscored the importance of properly managing the sports facilities that have been built across various regions in Papua. He stressed that these facilities should not remain idle but must be utilized to inspire and motivate young athletes.

“We’ve built many sports facilities, but they shouldn’t be left unused. I’ve already instructed that their management be improved so that sports in Papua can truly grow from the grassroots,” he asserted.

Governor Fakhiri expressed hope that the Top Scorers League would become a breeding ground for young football talents who could one day bring pride to both Papua and Indonesia.

In addition to opening the event, the Governor called on all stakeholders — including the government, coaches, and the community — to instill the values of sportsmanship, discipline, and perseverance in Papuan children.

He emphasized that the development of Papua’s human resources must be built upon three fundamental pillars: education, health, and sports.

“We want to raise a golden generation for Papua. It starts on fields like this. God has given the talent — now it’s our job to nurture it with sincerity and purpose. Let’s build our children’s future through sports,” Governor Fakhiri concluded.

During the ceremony, Governor Fakhiri performed the ceremonial first kick, marking the official opening of the U-12 Top Scorers League.

The event was attended by Ondoafi Warne Robby Awi, member of the Papua Provincial DPRD; representatives from Korem; several assistant regional secretaries; the Chief of Kampung Nafri; and hundreds of enthusiastic community members.

Mayor Inf. Guntur Lukas Tjoe, S.H., Chairperson of the Committee and the Papua Top Scorers Foundation, expressed gratitude to the Papua Provincial Government and all supporting partners for their commitment to youth sports development.

He conveyed hope that the competition would serve as a sustainable platform for nurturing young Papuan football talents.

The Papua Top Scorers League 2025 features dozens of football schools (SSBs) from Jayapura City, Jayapura Regency, and surrounding areas. The tournament will run until the end of November, with the final match scheduled to take place at Mandala Stadium, Jayapura.

With the resounding cheer of “Salam Olahraga!”, the event stands as a symbol of the revival of Papuan sports and an early step toward shaping a resilient, disciplined, and high-achieving Golden Generation of Papua. ***