Stone voices frustration over continued snubs in SP Sports Awards despite producing top athletes
Renowned Papua New Guinean coach and former national athlete Nelson Stone has publicly voiced his deep frustration after being overlooked once again at recent SP Sports Awards, despite decades of contribution to youth development and a recent world-class achievement.
Speaking candidly following the awards ceremony, Stone expressed disappointment over what he described as repeated dismissals of his efforts by the national sports community and selection committees.
“I’ve been runner-up multiple times since 1998. Sportsman of the year, sports official of the year, community initiative awards always runner-up,” Stone told NBC News. “It’s disappointing. I don’t know what more I need to do.”
The former national sprinter finished as the second best Junior Sports Man of the Year in 1998.
After a decade representing the country on the tracks, Stone was recognised for his efforts in the awards, but, missed the top honors to finish as runner up twice for Sports Man of the Year in 2010 and 2011.
He carried the flag of PNG in the 200m and 400m distance events on numerous occasions. His momentous showdown was in 2015, where he lit up Sir John Guise Stadium in the 400m race and relay, winning gold in front of a home crowd.
Stone called time on a glittering athletics career in 2019 and ventured into coaching and mentoring following the establishment of his NEST [Never Ever Stop Trying] Program.
The NEST initiative has produced some of PNG’s top sports athletes from the tracks and playing field. His products include current SP Hunters skipper Ila Alu, Murray Fige Cornors [Hunters] and some of PNG’s top athletes amongst others.
In 2019, the NEST program was a runner-up for the Community Initiative Award.
Stone also played a pivotal role as a strength and conditioning coach for Hela Wigmen where they won the 2020 and 2022 premiership titles in Digicel ExxonMobil Cup.
Since 2021, he has been the consecutive runner up for the Sports Official of The Year in the SP Sports Awards.
Stone, who has been instrumental in coaching and mentoring young athletes from local communities to the international stage, recently produced a world silver medalist, a rare feat for PNG sports.
He guided Rachel Laing, where she competed in the World Masters Athletics Championships last month, finishing second with a silver medal.
“I just produced a world silver medalist last month. Ask anyone else in there, have they done that? No. None of them,” he stated emphatically. “But this is life. I don’t back down. I’ll live and die by NFS — Never Ever Stop Trying.”
Stone also raised concerns about transparency in the award selection process, questioning the credibility of the committees involved and the fairness of decisions made.
“The criteria have never been revealed. People in the selection panels are not out there witnessing the effort we put in trying to raise athletes who represent PNG on the international stage,” he said.
The National Newspaper reporter Michael Philip also joined Stone’s choir, adding the selection criteria should be made public.
Two-time Male Athlete of The Year runner up and former Kapuls captain Alwing Komolong said; “What more can I do to win?”, he asked despite numerous successful achievements in the recent years in football in national level and abroad.
Despite Stone’s disappointment, he said he remains committed to his work, affirming that his ultimate goal is to produce a world champion.
“I’m still going to produce a world champion one day. It’ll be me and no one else.”
He ended his emotional address by reflecting on the personal toll of his experience but stood firm in his commitment to sports and youth development.