A game of Gridiron Football was hosted today at a crowded Teufaiva Stadium. For many Tongans it was the first time to watch the uniquely American sport which has a cult following among the Tongan diaspora in the United States and Hawaii.

The game featured two teams made up of local high school students and a few Tongan boys from the United States. The two teams were Vahe Kolo (City) and Vahe ‘Uta (Country). Vahe Kolo enlisted players from Tailulu, Tupou High School and ‘Apifo’ou College, while Vahe ‘Uta enlisted players from Tonga College, Tupou College and Takuilau.

 The event was organised by the Kingdom Bowl, a Tongan-American organisation aimed at promoting Gridiron Football in Tonga as well as “helping Tongan youth discover their heritage through events in both the US and Tonga”. The leader of the event, Siuaki Livai is a highly credited football coach from Hawaii.