FWC Fanga community donates $12,000 for 'Ikale Tahi [1]
Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 22:04. Updated on Wednesday, September 11, 2013 - 09:54.
COMMUNITY support is mounting in for the 'Ikale Tahi after the Free Wesleyan Church members and community at Fanga raised $12,200 in a fundraising and feasting event held last night, August 24.
The event attracted the Fanga community dressed in red and treated the Head Coach 'Isitolo Maka, Team Manager 'Aminiasi Kefu and captain Finau Maka and players to a feast before a koniseti or a fundraising of dancing was held at the FWC Hall at Fanga.
Finau Pulu of the Fanga FWC said that they raised a total of $12,200 pa'anga in their support for the 'Ikale Tahi in its preparation for the 2011 Rugby World Cup that starts on September 9 which is just two weeks from now.
He said Rev Sifa Palu of FWC Fanga received a letter from the Tonga Rugby Union Authority asking for financial support for the team, who would be fundraising on Saturday, August 27 in Nuku'alofa.
"We then decided to hold a Tongan drinking club to raise some money and a feast for the team last night. But then we got really excited and also held a koniseti or concert in which we raised the money," he said.
The FWC Fanga, the Fanga Combined Ex Students Committee and members of community donated the money, handed over to the new TRUA Chairman Rev. Tevita Latailakepa. They were happy because the 'Ikale Tahi Vice Captain Vungakoto Lilo had played for Fanga Rugby Club in the past.
The 'Ikale Tahi is currently in training at the Sia'atoutai field leaves for New Zealand on September 5.