More teams will join the competition for next round
“Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!” This was the opening remarks from the President of the Tonga Football Association, Lord. Ve’ehala during the opening ceremony of the TFA Youth Futsal on Saturday 13th of August 2022.
18 Youth Futsal Clubs marched around the ‘Atele Indoor Stadium to mark the opening of the 7 weeks futsal competition for youths. According to TFA’s competition officer, Mr Hemaloto Polovili, this year’s competition consists of 3 age groups. Under 14 and under 16 for both boys and girls also an under 19 category for boys only. Altogether in the opening, 55 teams have registered to join the competition.
“Lesser teams are joining this year’s competition compared to last year’s youth futsal where 71 teams registered and it is understandable that we have to take into account the fact that we have been hitted hard by some disasters this year starting by the volcano eruption and tsunami followed by the covid outbreak which led the country be on lockdown and most clubs especially players are still on the process of recovering. However register is still open and more teams will join the competition next week but for now these kids here today are excited to go back in the field and play the game they love, Mr Polovili added.
Despite fewer teams joing this year’s competition, Mr. Viliami Taufa of the Ha’ateiho Futsal Club has expressed his appreciation to all the boys and girls all over Ha’ateiho that turned up and joined the club for this year’s youth futsal. Mr Taufa started Ha’ateiho’s football for youth through the Grassroot and Just Play program where he managed to register three teams for last year’s youth futsal. This year’s competition Ha’ateiho youth futsal has registered six teams which consists of three under 14 boys teams, one girls under 14 team and also two under 16 boys teams.
“Soccer is growing in Ha’ateiho just because youths are starting to like the game as they grow to understand the rules of the game both in futsal and in the 11s code. This is because me and my coaching team do not miss a day in the week to train these kids and keep them busy after school by providing them with effective activities to keep them on the game,” says Mr Taufa.
“I did not play that well but my love for this game helps me promote it in our village with the best I can and I’m hoping in the near future ex-soccer players from my community will join me in doing so”.
First round of the competition started on Saturday 13 and they will go through to the knock-out stage next weekend.
End.
