On Saturday, August 17th, the Tonga Football Association (TFA) marked a significant milestone with the launch of the Vava’u TDS Centre. This momentous occasion was graced by the presence of TFA President, Lord Ve’ehala, General Secretary Lui ‘Aho, Chairman of the Technical Department Timani Naniseni, Technical Director Kilifi Uele, and Tonga TDS Manager Hemaloto Polovili, who traveled to Vava’u to inaugurate the center.
The establishment of the Vava’u TDS Centre is a testament to the island’s rich history of producing exceptional football talent. In his speech, Chairman Timani Naniseni highlighted Vava’u’s potential to continue contributing to Tonga’s national teams. He pointed to the successes of players like Tama’a Faletau, Siaki Lonitenisi, and ‘Amoni Fifita, who are currently making their mark in the senior national teams, as evidence of the island’s capacity to nurture future stars.
“There are currently three players in Tongatapu with the National Team who hail from Vava’u,” Naniseni remarked. “Tama’a Faletau, just 17 years old, is with the Mataliki Futsal team in Solomon Islands. Siaki Lonitenisi, only 16, who was part of the Tonga National U-17 Men’s team, is now the youngest player in the Tu’ulalupe training squad and ‘Amoni Fifita, who is part of the Tu’ulalupe squad for the FIFA World Cup Qualifier, also comes from here. This is what the On the Move slogan is all about. We want you all to be the next players to surpass these three and soon be the best in Tonga.”
A total of 21 young players, including 15 boys and 6 girls, have been selected as the best emerging talents on the island to kickstart the program at the Vava’u Centre. The launch event featured a short demonstration showcasing the new training equipment and gear provided by the TDS Program, giving attendees a glimpse of how the training sessions will be conducted.
‘Alisona Mikaele, the coach of the Vava’u TDS Centre, emphasized the importance of these new resources. “Here in Vava’u, the kids have been training with basic equipment—just a soccer ball, a field, and a goal. But when these kids saw all the new equipment being set up, they already felt special, as though their training was being upgraded. This will enhance their abilities and help them become some of the best players in the world,” Mikaele stated on the TFA website.
One standout among the newly scouted players is 13-year-old Siaki Popi Lonitenisi from ‘Utui. A rising star, Siaki expressed his ambitions, saying, “My goal for the future is to become the best player I can be. If I discipline myself and stay 100% focused on the program, I believe I can reach the top level. I am half Papua New Guinean, but I want to represent Tonga in the near future and play in the big leagues like my role model, Lionel Messi.”
The launch of the Vava’u Centre marks the final step in the rollout of all the TDS Centres across Tonga, with training programs now set to begin. TDS Manager Hemaloto Polovili will oversee the progress of these programs, ensuring that the future of Tongan football remains bright and full of potential.
End.
