Nili Latu for Prime Minister [1]
Sunday, October 7, 2007 - 10:04. Updated on Friday, June 13, 2014 - 19:33.
Editor,
'Ikale Tahi Captain Nili Latu is Peoples Representative No. 1 in my book. The whole team should run for Legislative Assembly seats.
In less than a month, due to his leadership the 'Ikale Tahi success has united the Kingdom in a positive manner, gives people something to smile about, gives hope to many rugby players and their families more than any politician has done in over 20 years.
A true leader unites people with words backed up with his own actions. A true leader gives people hope for the future if they work hard for it. And a true leader inspires people to do positive things they never thought possible.
Captain Nili Latu exemplifies these qualities of a true leader. At the RWC, he announced to the whole world, "We came from Tonga (to the World Cup) with
empty pockets, but determined to make a point."
A World Cup journalist describes it, "As one of the poorest nations at the World Cup, they showed that they can grind out victories."
Even back in Tonga, the paper Kele'a (owned by a Peoples Representative to Parliament) criticized, and called for an investigation of how much money and how it was paid to the 'Ikale Tahi team members. But the same paper was one of the first to claim photo-op credits for 'Ikale Tahi's successes. Hypocritical?
And congratulations to headcoach Quddus Fielea for proudly telling the world that 'Ikale Tahi used prayer and dedicated their games to the Almighty God.
Do politicians dedicate their work for the people to the Almighty God, or to the Almighty Pa'anga?
I think we could see the differences between what 'Ikale Tahi had done clearly now from the results of hard work.
Sione A. Mokofisi