The occassion was marked by the presence of the Australian High Comissioner to Tonga, His Excellency Mr Thomas Roth, Third Secretary/Vice Consul Eliza Woolcock, Tonga’s Minister of Training, Employment and Sports Honourable Feao Vakata and Punjas (Tonga) Ltd manager Abdul Shamim, who have all been supporting the programme since Tonga first piloted Just Play in late 2009.
The day wrapped up a record-breaking tournament that started six months ago with 40 teams.
The office of the High Commission in Tonga sponsored prizes for the U-12 division to the tune of TOP 2,000, which included sets of uniforms in Australian colours.
The guest of honour, H.E Mr Thomas Roth, stated that the Australian High Commission were delighted to be present to witness the finals of the Just Play-based competition, a programme largely funded by the Australian Government to encourage active and healthy lifestyles at a young age.
Mr Roth said the gifts are an expression of friendship between the two countries.
“It’s also a demonstration of the importance of sport in the lives of young people, in this country and in every country. Sport can do so much for both children and adults – it can help to provide good health, teaches children about team work, responsibility and to respect authority. For that reason, we are delighted to sponsor the event and provide the gifts.”
The high commissioner couldn’t resist the chance to have a kick around himself and took to the pitch at one point to join in with the children.
Honourable Feao Vakata, Tonga’s Minister of Sports, also addressed the Just Play family and said that he is encouraged by the work the Tonga Football Association (TFA), in partnership with OFC, has done at primary school level. He added that the football authority in the kingdom has been thriving since its establishment in the 1970s and went on to reveal his plans for the country’s sporting future.
“I am embarking on setting up a Tonga institute of sport to focus on running programmes for schools and communities. The aim will be to train our best young athletes and collaborate with other sporting bodies to provide the best possible service to all athletes in terms of training and performance.”
The U-12 division was won by Vaini A, who dispatched Vaololoa 8-1, while Vaini B beat Longoteme 2-0 to take third spot. Several individual prizes were also handed out: Best Male, Lisiate Folau, Marist; Best Female, Seini Lutu, Veitongo; Best Ball Juggler, Toni Nau, Navutoka; Youngest Squad Member, Pau Likiliki, Veitongo.
Just Play is a unique FIFA-approved grassroots programme which promotes physical activity for primary-aged children while encouraging community involvement and healthy living.
Developed by the OFC social responsibility and technical departments, it was launched in Vanuatu last April and has since been introduced in Tonga, Tahiti, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and South Auckland in New Zealand.
OFC is working closely with UEFA, the Government of Australia – through its agencies the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) – and Football Federation Australia (FFA) to roll out the programme across the Pacific. The Australian Government has shown its support to the project by contributing AU$4million.
In South Auckland, Just Play is supported by OFC’s partnership with the Sir John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation, Counties Manukau Sport and Auckland Football Federation.
For more news and information on Tonga football go to www.tongafootball.to