New name for Tonga Netball's national team [1]
Monday, June 13, 2022 - 19:03. Updated on Monday, June 13, 2022 - 19:05.
Tonga’s National Netball Team will go into the Oceania World Cup Qualifiers next month in Fiji, with a new name that has been bestowed by Queen Nanasipau’u,
They will be known as the Tongan Tala.
The Queen via her Private Secrertary, stated that “Tala” is the name of a deep-sea diving bird, an intelligent bird that is curious and quick witted.
"There is also a spiritual meaning to the Tala. When it appears, it symbolizes a good omen. It can tell a place of abundance laden with opportunities. There is comfort when the Tala appears and it extols the notion of always excelling in life…”
The Queen also extended her good wishes to the national netball team for the present and into the future.
Salote Sisifa, Tonga Netball CEO, said receiving the name granted by the Queen recognised the hard work of all involved over the years to the development of netball in Tonga.
"This has proven results on and off court."
She acknowledged the Government of Australia, through Netball Australia, for their investment made to Tonga Netball and to the Ministry of Internal Affairs Sports Division for the financial assistance that had supported their growth and productivity.
The newly named Tongan Tala will enter the Oceania World Cup Qualifiers next month in Fiji, aiming to qualify as one of top two teams from Oceania, that will go to Netball World Cup in 2023, she said.
"The supporters and fans of Tala make all the difference and the team felt every Tongans heart and soul behind them in the last competition, which took them to victory. We ask for the same same support leading on to the Oceania Qualifiers."
Meanwhile, the national team were the champions of the 2022 Pacific Australia Netball Series, after defeating Fiji in the grand final earlier in March in Sydney.