AFL Tonga

Report compiled by Michael Russell.

A complete copy of this report (with images) may be downloaded in the attachment below.

TONGA AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

TAFA REPORT 2006

Introduction:

The Tonga Australian Football Association (TAFA) was founded on Australia Day (January 26) 2003 when expatriates Mark Koresten and Tim Valente decided to kick a ball around at Teufaiva Stadium, Tonga’s national rugby venue. Curious onlookers asked to have a kick of the strange looking ball synonymous to the native Australian game of Australian football.

Mark and Tim were impressed by the athleticism and skill demonstrated by the locals, participating in Australian football for the first time ever. Without holding high hopes Mark and Tim invited the boys back the following week. Astonishingly, the locals came back and brought along with them a number of their friends keen to learn the new version of football in Tonga. All of a sudden crowds of weekly Australian football enthusiasts began to congregate and Mark and Tim realised the ongoing benefit their initial kick in the park could have to the Tongan community.

Since 2003, TAFA has progressed steadily, each year producing many great community development programs in Tonga. This hasn’t been an easy task as Tonga has proved a challenging working environment, and many obstacles have been rested in the way of coordinating our programs.

This year was no exception, facing many challenges, however finishing with another productive year. Achievements in 2006, include implementing a 12 week Aussie Rules schools junior development program (Skipjacks), fostering a 6 month combined junior Australian football/academic scholarship to Australia, implementing a development officer training program and hosting an amateur Australian football team in Tonga who competed against the Tongan national team and conducted a series of clinics in Tongan primary schools.

The aim of the TAFA report 2006, is to help you understand the good work TAFA is doing in the Kingdom of Tonga, using sport as a vehicle to develop the local community.

Structure of the Tonga Australian football Association in 2006:

There are two divisions of the Tonga Australian football Association. TAFA Australia and TAFA Tonga. TAFA Australia is a board of directors who supervise all operations and decision making, in addition to providing logistical support from Australia. TAFA Australia is made up of founding members and other expatriates who have lived in Tonga in the past and worked with TAFA Tonga.

TAFA Tonga is the team working on the ground in Tonga, whose role is to plan and coordinate all community development programs. TAFA Tonga comprises of a pool of talented locals and expatriates.

TAFA Australia (Board of Directors)

• Mark Korsten

• Tim Valente

• Nick Blencowe

TAFA Tonga:

• Malakai Vakasivola President

• Siaosi ‘Enosi Tu’ipulotu Secretary

• Hiko Fungavaka Committee Person/ Assistant Coach,

• National Team.

• Edward McCowen AYAD supervisor/ National Coach

• Michael Russell AYAD Development Officer

• Lotu Pangi Development Manager, National Team Captain.

• Heneli Tonga Development Officer

• Aleki Tuiono Development Officer

• Tavita Tuki Toa Development Officer

2006 Community Development Model:

Skipjacks, Aussie Rules Schools Program

Domestic Senior Competition

International Competition

Development Officer Training Programs

PTH, Youth Scholarship Program

2006 Community Development Programs Defined:

Skipjacks Aussie Rules Schools Program:

The Skipjacks, Aussie Rules Schools Program aims to provide opportunities for Tongan children to participate in sport at school, in addition to increasing participation numbers in Australian football at a junior level in Tonga. The program includes weekly visits to primary schools by trained development officers, in which children participate in a one-hour Australian football coaching clinic.

The program is aimed at children of both genders in classes 5 and 6 (aged 9-11). In 2006, The Skipjacks, Aussie Rules Schools Program was broken up over twelve weeks. Six schools participated, which included; Fanga GPS, Ngele‘ia side school, Havelu Primary School, Maama Mo'onia Primary School,

Fasi Primary School and The Ocean of Light School.

Three of the six schools that participated in the skipjacks program in 2006 were not English speaking schools, requiring coaching clinics to be communicated in the native Tongan language.

The nature of Australian football allows a diverse range of skills to be taught throughout the Skipjacks program. In 2006, Children in their second or third year of involvement in the program were exposed to advanced skills, which included kicking, hand pass, marking, bouncing, tackling, evasive skills and drills which included a combination of these skills and others used in Australian football matches.

Coaching clinics for children new to the program included the development of motor skills such as running, jumping, hoping, catching and dodging, in addition to teaching the basic skills of Australian football. Throughout all coaching clinics, emphasis was on participation and fun. Boys and girls who participated in the program were typically well behaved and enthusiastic to learn the skills of Australian football.

2006 Senior Competition:

The focus of TAFA’s sport participation programs has in the past and will continue to be in the area of junior development. However, increased numbers of youth and adults wanting to participate in Australian football in 2006 allowed TAFA to put in place the logistics for its first ever senior competition. The infamous riots of November 16th caused the competition to end after just one match had been played. The result being Timi Fakatahatah 11.12.78 to Hihifo Foxes 4.7.31.

Plans to recommence the senior competition in 2007 are well under way. The competition format includes 9 a side matches played on rugby fields, enabling TAFA to cater for the lack of ovals that are adequate size to play the traditional 18 a side format of Australian football. A 9 a side format also allows a greater number of teams to participate, creating a healthier competition until Australian football is more widely spread in Tonga and participation numbers increase at the senior level.

International Competition:

On Saturday, October 7^th the Tonga Black Marlins took on the Fitzroy Reds Football Club at Takulai College in Lapaha, an eastern village on the island of Tongatapu. (The main island of Tonga). The Fitzroy Reds Football Club are a team from Melbourne who compete in the Victorian Amateur Football Association, perhaps the premier amateur Australian football competition in Australia. Plans for a marketing campaign concentrated at playing the match at Teufaiva Stadium (Tonga’s national rugby venue) and promoting the event within the Tongan community were eradicated by the one month mourning period to respect the passing of King Taufa ‘ahau IV in September. 7

Despite the lack of advertising and marketing, a diverse crowd of approximately 100 people made up of expatriate Australians, local Tongans and curious travellers from the UK and USA made their way out to Lapaha, the larger proportion witnessing their first ever live match of Australian football.

In a hard fought contest, it was evident the Fitzroy Reds team was more experienced and skilful with a final score of 14.6.90 to Tonga 4.5.29. Despite the final score line, coaches of the Tongan team were extremely proud of the effort shown by the young and inexperienced Black Marlins. The Fitzroy Reds coach also spoke of the potential he seen in the Tongan team, particularly in the area of strength and tackling.

The fact that people from different racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds could join in a harmonious game of Australian football outside of Australia made October 7, 2006 a very special day for all involved. The pride associated with representing the Kingdom of Tonga made it even more special for the Tongan players and many of their families who attended. A full match report can be found at www.tafa.to

 

Pacific Timber Hardware 2006 Junior Scholarship Program:

The TAFA scholarship program aims to combine Australian football with academics, providing a young Tongan with leadership qualities the opportunity to study at secondary school and play Australian football in Australia. In 2006, Aleki Fungavaka became the second recipient of the scholarship program. Aleki spent 6 months in Adelaide, staying with a Tongan host family and studying year 9 and Norwood Morialta High School. Aleki was a member of his high school football team, in addition to playing in the under 15’s for the local club of Hectorville who reached the Grand Final in 2006.

After completing the 6-month scholarship Aleki was lauded by his peers, coaches, team-mates, teachers, and host family. Aleki’s skills developed in Australia are evident in his schoolwork and Australian football development work since returning to Tonga in September.

Development Officer Training Program:

In 2006, TAFA joined in the battle against youth unemployment in Tonga by providing jobs for three part-time local development officers and one full-time development manager. The primary role of the development manager and development officers is to assist with the coordination of the Skipjacks, Aussie Rules Schools program.

To ensure participants gain the utmost from coaching clinics conducted in the Skipjacks program, TAFA identified the need to train development officers on a regular basis, which is how the Development Officer Training Program was initiated.

The Development Officer training program was conducted over twelve weeks, coinciding with the dates of the Skipjacks program. Focus areas of the program included taking a professional approach to work, the stages of skill development in children, understanding the laws of Australian football and modified versions such as Auskick, planning for coaching clinics and the skills, drills and games applicable to an Australian football coaching clinic.

 

Fitzroy Reds Tour of Tonga:

On Thursday, October 5^th, 2006, the Fitzroy Reds Football Club arrived in Tonga to commence a one-week tour planed and organised by TAFA. The aims of the tour were to:

• Establish relations with TAFA.

• Play against the Tongan national team.

• Select a Tongan player to play for the Fitzroy Reds in 2007 on a TAFA scholarship.

The tour integrated a good mix of Tongan culture, tourism and Australian football. The Fitzroy Reds toured the main island of Tongatapu, as well as visiting Pangiamotu Island Resort, Royal Sunset Island Resort on Atata Island and Eua, where they were able to participate in activities such as snorkelling, windsurfing, 4 wheel drive tours, game fishing, and wale spotting, which were all accompanied by many truly unique cultural experiences.

Coaching clinics were conducted at Maama Monia Side School, the Ocean of Light School, and the Red Cross school for the hearing impaired. The involvement of the Red Cross school for the hearing impaired was significant, as the community of people with a disability are often excluded from sport participation in Tonga. The Fitzroy Reds kindly donated a number of footballs and AFL merchandise to each of the participating schools, which has been greatly utilised during lunch breaks and other free time.

Perhaps the biggest highlight throughout the tour was during a visit to Maama Mo‘onia Side School. A match would conclude the coaching clinic coordinated by the Fitzroy Reds, and after 5 minutes it was agreed that the team to score next would be the winner. Not long after, a fumble from a Reds player seen a young Tongan boy run through the pack with Byron Picket style attack on the ball and put a drop punt straight through the middle of the goals, ending the match with the young Tongans victorious.

The following afternoon the Fitzroy Reds took on the Tongan National team (see international competition), which followed an after match function at Nawalii beach resort. The after-match function, which went well into the following morning, combined the customary post-match cold beer with a traditional Tongan barbeque and kava ceremony on the beach. It is envisioned that the Fitzroy Reds tour of 2006 will be the forebear of a long-term relationship between TAFA and the Fitzroy Reds.

Australian Youth Ambassador for Development (AYAD):

The Australian Youth Ambassador for Development (AYAD) Program places Australians between the age of 18 and 30 into the Asia-Pacific region on short-term development projects. In June 2006, TAFA received their third AYAD, Michael Russell. Michael will work at TAFA for 12 months, with the primary role of developing and promoting the game of Australian football in Tonga, in addition to training local staff to ensure the long-term sustainability of TAFA.

Challenges faced:

The number of challenges faced implementing sport programs in the Kingdom of Tonga is becoming more and more evident each year. In 2006, the loss of two of the most prominent members of the royal family, along with the infamous riots on November 16th impacted TAFA’s ability to implement sport programs.

On July 7^th, Prince Tuipelehake and his wife, Princess Kaimana were killed in a car accident in the USA. A one-week mourning period followed in which organised sport was not permitted, causing TAFA to stop the Skipjacks program and training of the national team.

Similar impact on our programs followed the passing of King Taufa ‘ahau Tupou IV on the 9^th of September. The mourning period to mark the respect of the king was one month. Organised sport was not permitted and the Skipjacks program, along with the training of the national squad had to be stopped. The running of the TAFA Youth High School tournament was also impeded by the mourning period, and did not take place in 2006.

Plans for the 2006 senior competition to become TAFA’s core competition for this year were also impeded by the riots in Tonga on November 16^th. Restrictions placed on public gatherings enforced by the Tongan military prevented the competition from recommencing in the weeks that followed. It was then advised by the Tongan Amateur Sports Association that all organised sport should not take place until 2007.

 

Summary/ Future:

TAFA trusts that reading the TAFA Report 2006 has helped you understand the benefit TAFA is providing to the Kingdom of Tonga, using sport as a vehicle to develop the local community. Despite facing a number of hurdles, 2006 was a good year for TAFA.

We successfully implemented a12 week Aussie Rules Schools development program, successfully implemented a junior academic/Australian football scholarship to Australia, implemented a development officer training program, as well as put the logistics in place for the first ever senior competition in Tonga. The other great highlight of 2006, was hosting the Fitzroy Reds Football Club.

The Potential of TAFA within the Tongan community is endless, however limits on resources, in particular those in terms of finance, people and equipment, combined with the challenges faced working in Tonga make it evident that considerable time is needed before

TAFA can reach its full potential.

It is hoped that if we continue to produce quality programs each year, we will attract the support of quality individuals, business’s and enterprises both in Australia and in Tonga.

In 2007, TAFA looks forward to the continuity of the programs discussed in this report, in addition to working with other organisations in Tonga to implement new programs that will benefit the Tongan community. Priority areas of development in 2007 are programs focused on promoting participation amongst females and people with a disability in Tonga.