Kemoe'atu brothers proud of Tongan roots [1]
Thursday, May 5, 2011 - 23:03. Updated on Wednesday, September 11, 2013 - 10:06.
The Tongan-born American Professional Football stars Ma'ake and Chris Kemoe'atu met the Prime Minister, Lord Tu'ivakano this morning, May 5, during a brief visit to Tonga.
Chris (28) plays as a guard for the Superbowl 2010 champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers, while his older brother Ma'ake (32) plays defensive tackle for the Washington Redskins. The brothers have been highly successful in their National Football League careers, signing multi-million dollars contracts with their respective NFL teams in the United States.
In the meeting at the office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lord Tu'ivakano praised the brothers for being great ambassadors for Tonga.
"You have become an inspiration and a role model for Tongan youths and even though you grew up in the United States but you have never forgotten your motherland," he said
The brothers, both over six feet tall, were humble about their success.
Ma'ake who spoke fluent Tongan said they were very happy to be visiting Tonga and although they grew up in the United States, they have never forgotten their birth country and stayed connected with their families in Tonga.
Proud of their Tongan heritage, Ma'ake said that despite leaving Tonga at a very young age their parents father Manako Kemoe'atu from Falevai, Vava'u, and their mother Vahe'a from 'Eua had brought them up with the Tongan values, which they had maintained.
He believed that Tongan youths are very talented in sports, and the brothers have told the Prime Minister that they want to help Tonga either in education or sports, "so we will wait to hear from him," said Ma'ake.
The Kemoe'atu brothers arrived in Tonga last week and will return to the US on May 7.