Samuel, who won a Sports Media of the Year prize at the most recent PNGOC Awards Ceremony, will be joined by two other well-known figures in EMTV’s Jeremy Mogi as vice-president and PNGLoop's Quintina Naime as secretary and treasurer.

The body was officially formed in a ceremony at the PNGOC headquarters in Port Moresby, with Sir John among those attending alongside Media Council of PNG President, Alexander Rheenay.

“Thank you Alexander, for your involvement," Sir John said.

"Together we can make it happen in the future through sustainable and committed efforts.

“This is just the beginning."

Setting up Sports Journalists' Associations has been hailed as a priority by the Oceania National Olympic Committees in recent months in order to better publicise sporting accomplishments across the region.

In August, a similar body was revived in Fiji after a 10 year hiatus.

It is hoped that others will now follow suit.

“The PNG Sports Journalists Association has been officially established following the election of office bearers,” added Rheenay.

“On behalf of the Media Council of PNG, my thanks to the PNGOC for providing the venue as well as providing lunch following the completion of the elections.

“It is now up to the new PNGSJA executive to take the association forward - the template constitution which you passed on will be the first agenda item for their consideration at their first meeting.”

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