Sports Sponsorships – September 2023
YOUNG NPA BASKETBALL TALENT SHOOTS FOR THE STARS
A passionate basketball player from the NPA has received a significant boost for the 2023 boarding school basketball season staged in Cairns.
BEL granted 12-year-old Rasheeda Soki-Bond a $300 sponsorship to purchase basketball uniforms, shoes, bags and other training accessories for the year starting with a school competition in March 2023.
Rasheeda’s mother, Joyce Soki, says her daughter’s Clayfield College basketball team in Brisbane have won most of their games this season.
“The Student Support Officer at her school told me that her son looks up to Rasheeda and is her biggest fan,” the proud mum says.
“Thank you very much to BEL for providing the sponsorship and for giving her the opportunity to participate and improve in basketball,” Ms Soki says.
The rising star’s love for basketball started when she was in Year 6 and she was selected to compete at an interschool competition in Cairns after representing NPARC Bamaga Junior at a game on Thursday Island. Now in Year 8, Rasheeda is eager to participate in more games for her high school over the rest of the season and continue playing her favourite sport.
BEL CONTINUES TO BACK YOUTH FITNESS IN NPA THROUGH FUTSAL PROGRAM
The inclusive indoor sport of futsal continues to bring together local children in a fun environment.
Through BEL’s $9,000 six-month sponsorship, Torres & Cape Indigenous Futsal Association has been able to set up ongoing community sessions since December 2022 for more than 50 children across the NPA communities.
After four successful sessions over 2022/23 January summer holidays across Bamaga, Umagico and Seisia, Mr Orwell returned to hold three more sessions in May across Bamaga, Umagico and Injinoo, with 54 children participating across the townships.
Mr Orwell says BEL’s support has provided children with a sense of community.
“Kids in the NPA don’t have sports clubs they can go to on a regular basis,” Mr Orwell says.
“Our aim is not only to establish the activity in NPA, but also find local adults who can support it on a weekly basis.
“The program gives kids a taste of structured activity, encourages them to stay active and shows them we care about their wellbeing.”
In April, Mr Orwell also utilised the sponsorship funds to fly two players from Bamaga to compete at the Cairns Yidindji Futsal Cup during the Easter school holidays. BEL’s sponsorship covered their accommodation and livings costs for four days during the tournament.
Mr Orwell encourages children of all ages in the NPA to come along and play when the sessions are taking place in town.
“Whether it’s 20 against 20 or three against three, we can plan something that includes everyone,” he says.
AFL JUNIOR GIRLS SHINE AT STATE-WIDE SCHOOL CUP
In May the NPA made history entering a Junior Girls Division team into a state-wide AFL competition for the first time.
The passionate young team, consisting of Year 7-9 students from Tagai State College on Thursday Island and NPA State College in Bamaga, competed at the 2023 StreetSmarts AFL Queensland Schools Cup in Cairns on 2 May.
The girls played six games in the one-day competition. AFL Cape York Development Coordinator, Kieran Sciberras, says they impressed the crowd on multiple occasions.
“The team made solid improvements with each match,” Mr Sciberras says.
“They finished third overall with three wins and a narrow one-point loss in a tight contest against Smithfield State High School.”
Mr Sciberras also took a mixed primary team with girls and boys from Years 4-6 to compete at the StreetSmarts Cup. BEL’s $3,500 sponsorship covered the players’ uniforms and accommodation in Cairns.
“Without BEL’s support we would be unable to offer sporting opportunities to many young people who live outside of urban areas,” Mr Sciberras says.
YOUNG SEISIA STAR’S HISTORIC RUGBY WIN AT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
David-John Nona, an 11-year-old boy from the NPA, played an important role in his rugby league team’s triumph at the Queensland School Sport 10-18yrs Rugby League state championship. The win marked the first time in 42 years that a Northern Region team had claimed the title.
Originally from Seisia, David-John travelled 800 kilometres by car from Townsville – where he attends school – to participate in the rugby league state championship held in Gladstone in June.
David-John’s father, Guyson Soki, says during the final game against South Coast, the Northern Region Under 12 team dominated from the start, resulting in a 20-12 victory.
“The victory was also a personal triumph for David-John, achieving his goal of winning a State Championship medal,” says Mr Soki.
“Despite playing against more experienced boys from the southern regions, he stood out and gave his best performance.”
BEL provided an $816 sponsorship that covered David-John’s player fee and uniform for the six-day tournament. The motivated young man made his first brave move into rugby league in 2021, creating his own Under 11 team called North Queensland Balas or NQ Balas with his brother Elijah. Mr Soki is proud of his son who is helping other children open life-changing doors in 2023.
“Setting up his own team, the NQ Balas, will give the other boys ownership to showcase their talents, and build experience in playing at carnivals. David-John is also helping to highlight the NPA communities and show that life is all about having fun doing what you love,” he says.
Last year, BEL offered two additional sponsorships, granting David-John $500 for the Vic Jensen Carnival competition and $1,100 for the Vern Daisy Carnival, for the NQ Balas’ uniforms and participation fees.
At the Vern Daisy Carnival, the NQ Balas Under 11 team played five games, winning all of them, with four games seeing the opposition remain scoreless.
“I’m grateful to BEL for supporting David-John’s passion for rugby league and allowing him to help his peers grow confidence and proudly represent the Northern Region,” Mr Soki says.
YOUNG BAMAGA BASKETBALL STAR MAKES WAVES AT NATIONAL LEVEL
Thirteen-year-old rising basketball star Jay Sebasio has cemented her place as the region’s one to watch.
Jay, a Torres Strait Islander, born and raised in Bamaga and now living in Brisbane, represented Queensland at the 2022 School Sport Australia Combined Basketball Championships in Bendigo, Victoria, helping her team win a silver medal. More recently, she wowed the crowds in the South Queensland Junior Basketball Competition’s Division 1 U/14 Logan Thunder team, scoring 20 points for the team in the final match at the State Championships on 4 July 2023. The team took out the silver medal with four wins and only one loss and will compete at the National Championships in Victoria at the end of September.
BEL’s $3,000 sponsorship to Jay helped boost her basketball journey, transporting her to Bendigo for the competition last year, covering her and her father Aaron Sebasio’s flights, hire car and accommodation over the six days, uniform and playing levy.
Mr Sebasio says BEL’s financial contribution made a significant impact in helping his daughter reach her potential.
“The sponsorship and support from BEL gave her a deeper connection to home and a true sense of belonging to community which is so keen to watch her grow,” Mr Sebasio says.
The youngster, who has been playing basketball since the age of seven, also found a way to publicly pay tribute to BEL while at the 2022 competition.
“I had the BEL logo embroidered on my team tracksuit,” Jay says.
“So many people asked me about it, and I was able to share with them information about BEL and their support.”
The ambitious student dreams of playing basketball for Australia and within the United States one day.
“I want to go to college there in a Division 1 school and then make the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) or Australia’s WNBL (Women’s National Basketball League),” she says.
“Playing basketball keeps me healthy and happy and gives my life meaning. It’s part of who I am, and BEL helped me pursue my dreams.”