World Footy News

Not only was 2008 a big struggle for football in Tonga as the Tongan Australian Football Association (TAFA) attempted to get a team to the 2008 International Cup, but the fledgling league also suffered the cruellest of blows when two of its players suffered horrific injuries in a car accident just weeks before the trip to Australia. Both young men sustained life-changing injuries and have been the subject of fundraising efforts. Meanwhile TAFA ended up sending a side to the Cup but the decision was too late for the main event.

After months of recovery it has been confirmed that 22 year old Mafua Kiokata remains paralysed from the neck down, and 18 year old Paumolevuka Tu'i from the waist down. Such injuries are always terrible, yet seem somehow even worse given that both men were such young sportsmen. Living in a developing nation must only make their challenge greater. TAFA has been active in fundraising to support Pau and Mafua, with 130000 Tongan Pa'anga (about AUD$9000 or 4500 euro or US$6000) raised at an auction at the Billfish Bar for the Pau Mafua Trust Fund, to provide specialised equipment, modifications to family homes and long term carer support to enable the best possible quality of life for Pau and Mafua.

In football matters the big decision to be made was whether to attend the 2008 International Cup in Australia. Ultimately the deadline (including an extended AFL deadline) was missed but a controversial decision was made to come anyway. With the final format decided and draw released, the best the AFL could offer was a place in the adjunct Multicultural Challenge. A positive by-product of the trip was that the Tongan members were able to mix with the Tongan-Australian community, which also fielded a team in the Challenge series, so hopefully some benefits will come from that.

In recent years Tongan footy founder Mark Korsten, as with many forefathers of Australian football expansion, has had to slowly reduce his role due to family and business commitments back home in Australia. With former AusAID development officer and Tongan coach Michael Russell now no longer involved at all, the sport faces a challenge to become self-reliant and self-sustaining in Tonga. Fortunately the arrival of AFL Oceania may help facilitate this process.

If anyone wishes to make a donation to support the two young car accident victims, struck down on the verge of representing their country, you can do so by contacting Mark Korsten through the TAFA website or contact worldfootynews.com and we can put you in touch with Mark. worldfootynews.com has limited resources but has made a AUD$200 donation and would like to encourage the Aussie Rules community to help where it can.

Mafua Kiokata

Pau Tu'i