Editor,

I am responding to Poosoa Finau's letter , "Tuku e loto mamahi," June 22, 2010.

Posoa, I sense from your language that you are talking down at soccer. The sport you are mocking at was brought to the kingdom by the late King Taufa'ahu Tupou IV. You should go down to Mala'e Kula and take a look because I have a feeling there is smoke of disappointment coming out of there. You belong to a minority group of soccer haters because this sport is "numero uno" in the world. Your ignorance of the sport is due to your lack of talent.

I wish someone had translated my writing to you so you fully understand it. If you understand it you would get my point. However, you missed it by a mile. Next time, if you want to be a part of an English dialogue, try to understand it first, and should you want to respond, you do so in the source language.

I was a soccer rep for Tonga in 1985. I was 18yrs., 6ft. -1in., 180lbs and yes . . . I lived in the village of Navutoka then. It has been 25 years since I moved to the US and lots of things have changed.

I am 43 and weight 250lbs Poosoa. I have a wife and children now. I have played rugby in club and college levels here in the states. I have been in the US Army Reserve. I am an American citizen now and my residence is Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. I have: higher education, coach (IRB), referee (IRB), assistant referee/touch judge (IRB), scuba diving, court interpreting, contracting trainings, etc. etc. I also teach/coach/evaluate referees for USA Rugby. I have been involved in starting and/or coached rugby programs at different levels in different states. There are many other sports that I am pretty good at besides soccer & rugby. I don't want to sound like I'm bragging about my accomplishments but rather I want you to realize the change of events that happened in the last 25 years since you are still stuck in the 1980s.

I invite you to go to usarugby.org and look in the referee "event calendar”. You might find where I will be teaching level 2 rugby officiating in August. These trainings are sponsored by IRB and hosted by USA Rugby.

Have you heard of Tomasi Lovo, Moimoi Halatanu, or Taunaholo Taufahema? These were converts from soccer who did well in rugby. How about Latu Va'eno? He didn't play any sport until he was a grown up and became a great national rep in rugby union.

Do you know that Tatafu Polota-Nau was a wrestler in high school? Do you know that Will Genia was a cricket player until he moved to Australia?

You keep talking down at our rugby venue (in Hawaii) even when I told you that there have been international matches played at Kapiolani in the past. The players here are CIPPed registered which they are covered $1,000,000.00 for each occurance. The state of Hawaii owns the park which holds multi-million dollar insurance policy on it. You can easily build 5 stadiums the size of Teufaiva on this multi-purpose park with miles of parking for its users. Kapiolani have an irrigation system to keep the pitch soft and green.

Finally, I believe I have all the right to share my sports critiques here.

'Aisea T. Tu'ikolovatu

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