Tonga
Daily
News
SPORTS
Volume 3. Issue 102
Phone: 8467762
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www.tongadailynews.to
Mayweather sets up Pacquiao ﬁght London, ENGLAND (DailyMail): Floyd Mayweather will announce at his teasing convenience that the richest ﬁght in boxing history will take place in Las Vegas on May 2.
All that remains of the long wait for the best pound-for-pound ﬁghter in the world to take on the pretender to that mythical title, Manny Pacquiao, is for Money Mayweather to conﬁrm that it’s on at last.
Mayweather and the Filipino Pac-Man are to be paid a combined purse of $250million for answering the public demand that they ﬁnally settle their ﬁve-year argument in the ring. That cash-crazy neon desert Strip has lit up with electric expectation that Mayweather is ready to conﬁrm what has long seemed inevitable.
The right to tell the world is one of his many stipulations in a contract to which all parties are reliably reported to have agreed after an eternity of wrangling.
Games’ preparation awaits Cabinet decision
By ILIESA TORA
Nuku’alofa (TDN): The
2019 Paciﬁc Games Organising Committee is hopeful that Government will give them the thumbs up to start work on the Games’ preparation sooner than later.
This follows the approval of by the Paciﬁc Games Council of the Master Plan presented by the organizing committee last week.
Executive Members of the Paciﬁc Games Council were here last wee, meeting with the 2019 Paciﬁc Games Organising Committee, TASANOC and Government representatives.
Council President Vidhya Lakhan told the local media at a press conference here in Nuku’alofa last Friday that the Council was happy with the progress so far.
“The PGC Executive Board is satisﬁed that the Master Plan is consistent with the ‘Walking Games’ concept, where the majority of the Games’ venues are located in the main population centre of Nuku’alofa and within the walking distance of its schools which will house the Games athletes,” he said.
“There are 12 schools currently catering for over 6,800 students within walking distance of the Te’ufaiva Stadium.
“The is also the key to ensuring that after the Games, the venue are easily accessible to the future youth of Tonga, leaving positive legacies which justiﬁes the investment in the 2019 Paciﬁc Games.”
Vidhya said Tonga has had the chance to learn from past mistakes of those who had hosted previous Games.
“We are pleased to see that Tonga’s Master Plan avoids the mistakes that some previous Games hosts have made in building venues in locations where few people live and where public transport to these venues is limited,” he said.
“The PGC Executive Board is also pleased that the proposed funding model for the 2019 Paciﬁc Games will not be a burden on the people of Tonga and will not unduly impact on Government’s existing expenditure budgets.”
Vidhya said they have urged the Government to endorse the Master Plan and move swiftly towards the implementation “so that the venues can be built and re-
Lord Sevele with the Games’ Council executives in Nuku’alofa last week.
Photo: TDN
furbished well in advance of the 2019 Paciﬁc Games”.
He added that the Council stands ready to work with Tonga in ensuring that the Kingdom is able to deliver in hosting the Games.
The Games will be centred around the main planned venue beside Tonga High School and Nuku’alofa Government Primary School, Tonga College in ‘Atele and the Loto-
Tonga Football Complex in Veitongo.
“The Paciﬁc Games Council Executive Board timed its visit to take an early opportunity to meet representatives of the new Tongan Government following national elections in late 2014,” Vidhya said.
The Board met with Prime Minister Hon Samiuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva and Sports Minister Hon Sosefo Fe’ao Vakata.
“During these meetings, the new Tongan Government reiterated its support for Tonga’s hosting of the 2019 Paciﬁc Games.”
Council Executive Director Andrew Minogue said they were keen to see Tonga’s progress and also hope that Tonga will send a strong contingent to the 2015 Paciﬁc Games in Papua New Guinea in July.
The Chairman of the 2019 Paciﬁc Games Organisining Committee, Lord Sevele of Vailahi told the media that they were hopeful Government will approve their plans.
“We believe they have in principle and we need them to approve the plan that we have before them so that we can start working on funding and the processes involved in constructing the facilities that need to go up,” Lord Sevele said.
Majority of the funding is expected to come from donor agencies.
Lord Sevele said the total budget for the Games is $250 Million Pa’anga.
Out of that $200M is earmarked for the construction of facilities.
Meanwhile, Vidhya said the amount is not a big one, considering the fact that majority of it will go towards construction and refurbishment of facilities.
He told the media that Tonga had seven years to prepare for the Games.
“That is the timeline given to them,” he said.
He was concerned that there was an 18months delay initially but added that was not a major problem.
“While we had lost 18 months, we can manage the process,” he said.
“The plan is good, practical and affordable and what we need now is for Government to endorse it so that work can start.
“We can’t afford further delays as processes take time.”
Both Vidhya and Lord Sevele agreed that the facilities that are going to be built will be for Tongans over the next 50 to 100 years.
Felenite beat Siutaka to win Willy ‘O Cup
Sydney, AUSTRALIA (TDN): The Felenite Rugby side of Australia won the 2015 Willy ‘O Cup after they defeated Siutaka of New Zealand 24-21 in the decider last Saturday.The clash took place at Granville Park in the suburb of Merrylands in Sydney.
The annual meet, which brings together Tongan players from New Zealand and Australia, proved to be a thriller – a very physical up front battle and an awesome match to watch.
The Willy ‘O committee acknowledged the work done by Fotu Mokoﬁsi, who was the organiser of the Felenite vs Siutaka match on Saturday.
Felenite’s points came through tries by William Cocker , Tui Fa’asisila, Jonathan Fakai and Max Ma’a Nelson.
Conversions were added by Sione Ala, who kicked two conversions.
Siutaka’s points came through try-scorers Loa Havili and Misinale Taukolo.
Sione Katoa kicked a conversion and three penalties.
Former ‘Ikale Tahi Sateki Tuipolotu was coach of Felenite while Ofa Topeni coached Siutaka.
Siutaka was led by captain Paula Hala.
Here’s the Felenite coaching staff: Head Coach – Sateki Tuipulotu, Assistant Coaches – Wyclff Palu/ Sam Tau-
8 Tonga Daily News February 20, 2015
The Siutaka defense tries to stop this Felenite try in last weekend’s Willy ‘O Cup clash in Sydney (left) as the Felenite front row packs down for another scrum. Photos: BEN TAPEALAVA/TDN
peaafe/Tonga Lea’aetoa /Kave Naati, Trainer – Jimmy Veikoso and Ben Tuipulotu, Skills coach – Peto Sinisa, Runners / water/ volunteers – Ofa Latu, King Tuipulotu, Physio – Milton Karavas, Managers – Fotu Mokoﬁsi and Sione Ofahengaue.
The Felenite starting 15: 1. Tonga Lea’aetoa 2. Willie Pasi 3. Kevin Palivi Fiu 4. Patrick Malie 5. Tui’one Nai 6. William Cocker ( V.C) 7. Kolotina Fonua 8. Vince Baranyi 9. Robbie Mate 10. Pierre Hola 11. Pio Tuitavake 12. Tui Fa’asisila 13. Kaysee Greer 14. Graham Kolomalu 15. Sione Ala;; Reserves – 16. Vahiti Hopoi 17. Daid Lolohea 18. Ovaleni Baranyi 19. Funaki Fainu 20. Wesley Talanoa 21. Max Ma’a Nelson 22. Jonathan Fakai 23. Eiki Metuisela 24. Johnny Loseli 25. Suntesa Fa’ssisila.