The Lapaha community has successfully completed the This Is How We Football (TIHWF) program, marking a significant milestone in its engagement with football at the grassroots level. The program, guided by an eight-week curriculum, concluded this week on the community’s soccer grounds, with children and coaches alike reflecting on their transformative journey.
The TIHWF program kicked off for 2024 on July 29 with a workshop introducing the curriculum to community coaches of Lapaha, Lotoha’apai, Ha’ateiho and Longoteme. Afterward, each community initiated their own sessions, following the structured guide over the course of eight weeks. Lapaha was the third to reach the finish line after Longoteme and Ha’ateiho has completed their program, with coaches Mele Moala Soakai, Grace Tenifa, Po’oi Ma’asi, and Rose Hufanga leading the initiative. Their efforts culminated yesterday in a successful final session, marked by the high turnout of participants.
Building Football and Lifeskills
One of the program’s youngest coaches, 20-year-old Po’oi Ma’asi, praised the initiative for fostering a deeper connection between the community and the sport. “I grew up loving football, starting when I was in high school at Takuilau College. I’ve played for our village football club, and this is my first experience coaching. I see how this program can increase football’s popularity in our village,” said Ma’asi.
He added that football has historically struggled to gain traction in the area, but bringing TIHWF to the community has sparked new interest. “This is not just about teaching kids to love the game but also imparting life lessons, like the dream board activity we did today. It helps kids reflect on who makes them feel safe and teaches them how to live a healthy lifestyle.”
In their final session, the children participated in a dream board activity focused on the theme of Safety, followed by a series of fun football games, which the kids enjoyed immensely.
For some, like 17-year-old Mele Hale, the program offered more than just football training, it also taught valuable life skills. Hale, who began playing football in 2017 and represented Tonga’s U-16 Women’s National Team in Tahiti, was enthusiastic about the program’s impact on her development.
“After 8 weeks of this program it not only helped me improve my football skills, but it also gave me a deeper understanding of life skills, like knowing who to reach out to for help and advice, and what kind of food will enhance my abilities as a player,” Hale said.
She continued to stress how TIHWF reinforced important safety lessons and provided insights into building a support network within the community.
The Lapaha community’s success serves as an inspiration as other communities prepare to wrap up their own eight-week programs. Today, Lotoha’apai is set to be the last to complete its sessions marking the completion of all four communities.
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