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Home > 'Ikale Tahi - people's team connects with community

'Ikale Tahi - people's team connects with community [1]

Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Wednesday, June 28, 2017 - 19:11.  Updated on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 - 18:20.

Photos by Linny Folau.

'Ikale Tahi coach, Toutai Kefu and staff with kids, CBD Nuku'alofa. 28 June 2017.
After years of absence, the ‘Ikale Tahi national rugby team is finally playing a home game in Nuku'alofa on Saturday, July 1, and coach Toutai Kefu is very happy that they are.
 
After spending over a week in rugby training camp on Tongatpu, the team came into town today for some fun. Players completed an Amazing Race Challenge in the Central Business District, where coach Toutai Kefu told Matangi Tonga that it's good to be able to finally play in Tonga.

He said the team is preparing well and they are looking forward to playing against the Manu Samoa who arrived in Nuku'alofa yesterday, June 27.

"The boys are really enjoying it and we've only got two players who have played here before at Teufaiva Stadium. A lot of the boys don’t realize how special it is, so it’s good that they have come here to experience that."

In today's events, players were put into different teams to complete a number of challenges like helping to sell vegetables and fruits at Talamahu Market, serving drinks and food in cafés, going into a prison cell at the Central Police Station, while some of the management team threw some rugby balls for a few children at Digicel Square.

Kefu said they were supposed to have a day off but the boys wanted to do something together so they came out to have a little bit of an Amazing Race.

"One thing we want to do is connect with the community. We are a people’s team so that’s what we are trying to do today."

'Ikale Tahi halfback Leon Fukofuka said most of the players have never been to Tonga so this was a way for them to experience the everyday life here.

"We had to take pictures of us completing each of the challenges, it was fun," he said.

'Ikale Tahi players assist a vegetable seller at Talamahu Market. 28 June 2017.
'Ikale Tahi half back, Leon Fukofuka helps a fruit seller at Talamahu Market. 28 June 2017.
'Ikale Tahi players visits Police. 28 June 2017.
Amazing Challenge fun - 'Ikale Tahi players in CBD Nuku'alofa. 28 June 2017.
Amazing Challenge fun - 'Ikale Tahi players in CBD Nuku'alofa. 28 June 2017.
'Ikale Tahi coach, Toutai Kefu looks on as children play rugby, CBD Nuku'alofa. 28 June 2017.
'Ikale Tahi coach, Toutai Kefu and players with fans, CBD Nuku'alofa. 28 June 2017.
Tonga [2]
'Ikale Tahi [3]
Toutai Kefu [4]
Rugby [5]

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Source URL:https://matangitonga.to/2017/06/28/ikale-tahi-peoples-team-connects-community

Links
[1] https://matangitonga.to/2017/06/28/ikale-tahi-peoples-team-connects-community [2] https://matangitonga.to/tag/tonga?page=1 [3] https://matangitonga.to/tag/ikale-tahi?page=1 [4] https://matangitonga.to/tag/toutai-kefu?page=1 [5] https://matangitonga.to/topic/rugby?page=1