President Chung was among 13 OBE recipients announced by Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio in the 2012 Queen’s Birthday Honours list this month and is humbled to receive the award.
“I feel very honoured and proud,” he says. “The OBE is a high honour and will serve to bring further respect not only to myself but to football in Papua New Guinea and throughout the Oceania region.”
Chung, who is also president of the Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA), was rumoured to be in line for the honour but says it still came as a surprise to see his achievements recognised in such a way.
He is quick to acknowledge the efforts of those who have supported him throughout his career and is looking forward to continuing his work with both OFC and the PNGFA.
Born in Malaysia, Chung came to Papua New Guinea in the mid-1980s and quickly became a resident. Although initially involved in rugby league, he soon became a football player, coach and referee before focusing on the administration of the world game in the Highlands region.
Since his election to the PNGFA presidency in 2004, he has worked tirelessly to improve the status of football in Papua New Guinea and can be credited with implementing a variety of key initiatives, including the historic launching of the country’s first ever semi-professional league in 2006.
The National Soccer League aimed to improve the standard of football in Papua New Guinea and, in turn, produce better performances at OFC tournaments and it has done just that, as evidenced by the remarkable rise of Hekari United. The Port Moresby-based club defied all odds to become the first Pacific team from outside New Zealand or Australia to win the OFC Champions League and qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup in 2010.
Chung has also been a huge proponent of women’s football and his reign at the helm of the PNGFA has coincided with a string of emphatic results for the national women’s team, including a hat-trick of Pacific Games titles, in 2003, 2007 and 2011. The country’s U-15 girls’ side was also chosen by OFC to represent the region at the 2010 Youth Olympics in Singapore.
Grassroots football in Papua New Guinea has likewise been boosted under Chung’s tenure with a variety of development programmes being put into practice. The OFC U-12 Festival of Football was hosted in Port Moresby in 2007 and was a memorable event, drawing 5,000 participants from five countries.
While financial support has been provided by FIFA and OFC, Chung has also been instrumental in securing significant sponsorship from local businesses to help fund the association’s activities.
Finally, he has overseen a series of infrastructure projects, including a national football academy in Lae and regional technical centre in Kimbe. Plans are in place for an additional technical centre to be completed in Port Moresby.

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