THE TONGA NATIONAL BEACH SOCCER TEAM LEAVING TONGA, 13 JUNE, FOR TAHITI FOR THEIR FIRST EVER PARTICIPATION IN AN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION, THE OFC BEACH SOCCER NATION CUP.
This year’s OFC Beach Soccer Nation Cup will be hosted by the Federation Tahitienne de Football (FTF) of Tahiti in collaboration with the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). The competition will be held for a week from the 17 to 22 June 2019.
Tonga Team will come against the might of Tahiti a world class team, which a couple of times have seen them at FIFA World Cup level, and had reached FIFA World Cup final twice, 2015 and 2017. Joining Tonga and Tahiti will be New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
The competition will kick off at 2.00PM Monday 17 June with the first game between New Caledonia and Solomon Islands. Tonga will have their first game at 4.00PM on Tuesday 18 June against a very skillful and talented Tahiti Team, and a decisive game for Tonga.
The Tonga National Beach Soccer Team Squad and Officials are as follows; Tevita Taufaati Havili, Penisimani Bradford M. Veikoso, Joseph Taylor Pale, Alimoni Kaufusi, Sione Nafe Tutone, Sione Lavaka Takelo Jr, Pitasoni Uluvalu, SiakiMoui-he-lotu Finau, Tupou Uatesoni Uhatahi, Folauhola-I-Vaiola Mesui, Sione Kauvaka Tupou (Assistant Coach), Makamione Loni (Head Coach), Kilifi Solia Uele (Team Manager) and Mosese Mafi (Head of Delegate).
“This competition is going to be a tough games for our team, however we already well prepared for the challenge. We know it is our first game at international level and our boys are eager to go out there and do their very best, said Tonga Head Coach Makamione Loni.
“Back home in Ha’apai where most of us came from, our Governor with our families and people of our islands will watch us play, through the OFC website, and that is a big thing for myself and the boys.” Mr Loni said.
Most of the players in the Tonga Team came from the Ha’apai Islands. This Group of Islands was chosen in September 2015 to pilot the FIFA Beach Soccer Development Project. Since then Beach Soccer became the main sport activities for the islands. With beaches within reach of every community and school, beach soccer had been a blessing to sports and health. Thus, their participation in this year’s OFC Beach Soccer Nation Cup shows the highest level of the talents within the four years since launching of the Project.
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