After weeks of cancelled training due to weather and field condition, Future and Young Mataliki was able to kick-off with their first training for 2023 in Loto-Tonga Soccer Center on Tuesday 28th of April.
Connie Selby expressed her excitement about the girls coming together for the first time in the calendar year. “From now on trainings will only be cancelled if there is a cyclone or storm but for now the team really need to start and continue training every week”.
“24 players turned up on Tuesday and some were late but it is a good number to start with. Training is set now for every Tuesday and Thursday 5:00pm,” Connie added.
Scouting for potential players started last year and stopped during the holidays. This year some of the players were selected for the high school’s athletic squads but focus now is still on the search for young Tongan female players and to test and refine their football skills.
The Under 19 trials are to identify potential players to represent Tonga at the OFC U19 Championship in July 2023. Several U16’s girls have shown that they also have the ability to be identified as potential U19 squad players.
The U16 girls’ trials are to identify potential players to represent Tonga at the OFC U16 Championships in September 2023 in Tahiti.
The TFA National Women’s Coach has been assisted by several senior national team players.
End.
