Face Of Freeport: Marinus Beanal and the Central Papua Rugby Team: Making History at PON XXI
07 October 2024
The success of an employee balancing work and passion is an inspiring example, especially when their achievements bring pride not only to themselves but also to their community and company.
The Central Papua rugby team made history by winning the bronze medal at the 2024 National Sports Week (PON XXI) in Aceh-North Sumatra. One of the standout figures in this achievement is Marinus Beanal, an employee from HR-Manpower Management Division of PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) and captain of the Central Papua rugby team, Kuskus Rugby Club.
Marinus is not just a dedicated athlete but also an inspirational leader, representing the Amungme tribe from Banti, Papua.
The Beginning of Marinus' Rugby Journey
Born and raised in Arwanop Village, Tembagapura, Marinus is the fourth of eight siblings. He was introduced to rugby at the age of 13 by a worker in his village.
"I first learned about rugby through our coach, Mr. Tofinus Kafiar, in 2003. At that time, he was an employee stationed at the Wanagon River, Banti. In his spare time, he often shared stories about his rugby career while playing with a ball he brought along. Those stories sparked me and my friends' interest in trying rugby," said Marinus. "Mr. Tofinus is a very dedicated coach. He saw our potential and decided to stay in the village to help us grow," he continued.
From that moment, his passion for the sport grew. Rugby became more than just a hobby for Marinus, it became a vital part of his life.
In Banti, there are two rugby clubs: the senior Papuan Highlanders Rugby Club, known as Bugin Me Rugby Club in the Amungme language, and the junior Menaga's Rugby Club or Kuskus Rugby Club. These clubs are a platform for the youth of Banti to hone their rugby skills. Marinus has long been involved with both clubs, as both a player and a coach.
In 2005, he competed in the Jakarta 10's and Bali 10's tournaments, this was his first rugby tournament which opened doors to both national and international competitions.
Since then, Marinus has consistently competed in various rugby events across Indonesia and internationally. In 2013, he and the Indonesian National Team secured third place in the HSBC Asian Five Nations Division III in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This experience broadened his knowledge of rugby and helped him grow as a leader on the field.
"Rugby isn't just about physical strength; it's about building character, discipline, and teamwork—values I also apply in my work at PTFI," Marinus shared.
PON XXI Aceh-North Sumatra 2024
Marinus led the Central Papua team at PON XXI Aceh-North Sumatra, as the captain, he was responsible for guiding this team of 12 players in both strategy and motivation.
During the PON matches, Marinus and his team managed to defeat strong teams like Papua and West Java before eventually being beaten by Jakarta, who took home the gold medal. "Our physical strength might give us an edge because we're from the highlands, but we need more support, especially with better training facilities," Marinus explained. Competing against teams from outside Papua was a proud moment for the Central Papua team, who trained on the streets of Banti with limited resources and equipment.
"We are proud to represent Central Papua at PON. Despite the many challenges, we overcame them with hard work," he added.
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"On behalf of the entire PTFI Indonesia family, I want to express our pride, appreciation, and congratulations to the Central Papua rugby team, consisting of young talents from Mimika, where our mining operations are based. This has been a long journey, and PTFI is committed to supporting the development of rugby in Mimika, Central Papua, and Papua Province. We hope the team continues to achieve great things. Congratulations to the Central Papua rugby team," said Claus Wamafma, Director & Executive Vice President of Sustainable Development & Community Relations at PTFI, in a meeting with Marinus.
PTFI has provided significant support not only to Marinus but also to the development of rugby in Papua for over 20 years.
"PTFI's support extends to athletes not only in Mimika but also to national-level athletes. We channel this support through local sports organizations and clubs. Marinus is one of the promising young athletes from the highlands," explained Jerry Sizs, Manager of Community Affairs at PTFI.
Hopes and Messages
"Rugby teaches us discipline, teamwork, and never to give up. These values apply not only to the field but also to my work at PTFI," Marinus reflected. As an employee in PTFI's Manpower Management department, Marinus has worked for nine years while balancing his time between work and rugby training.
The Central Papua rugby team's bronze medal win at PON XXI is not the end of their journey. Marinus hopes this achievement will open more opportunities for Papua's younger generation to get involved in sports, particularly rugby.
He also expressed hope that PTFI and the Mimika Regency Goverment would support the construction of a rugby field in the Waa-Banti Valley, along with a proper rugby stadium in Timika. Recognizing the strong potential among Banti’s youth, he believes these facilities could play a key role in fostering their talent, similar to how the Silas Papare Rugby Field in Jayapura has helped develop the sport there.
"I want to invite the youth of Papua who are interested to join and train with us," Marinus concluded.
As captain of the Central Papua rugby team, Marinus has proven that with hard work, support, and commitment, extraordinary achievements can be reached—even from a remote area in Papua.
“We are so blessed to have Pak Marinus in the HR team, as he always shows a positive attitude and good collaboration across sections and departments. It is our hope the milestone that he recently achieved is only the beginning of many achievements in his future career for this company,” said McArthur Hutapea, Vice President of Human Resources at PTFI.
The Central Papua rugby team's success at PON XXI is not only a source of pride for this new province but also for the people of Papua and PTFI employees. With an unwavering spirit, they have shown that origins and limitations are no barriers to success.
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