Futsal

The competition launched in April, running in parallel to the delivery of Just Play’s Health & WASH curriculum in the local communities and schools, and aimed at putting the learnings of the week into practice.

Thirty-two teams signed up to participate in the eight-week event which was held at Vava’u High School, with Holeva just one of the communities joining in the Just Play Programme for the first time.

On Saturday, the first-ever tournament-based futsal festival got underway at Vava’u High School hall with an impressive 32 teams signed up to participate in the eight-week event.

Vava’u Football Association Officer in Charge, Manatu Liava’a said the local community is excited to be learning more about futsal and developing skills in a game which suits the smaller island group communities.

“Introducing futsal in Vava’u is a new era for football here in the island and we are excited and motivated to join in an promote the game,” Liava’a said.

Tonga FA staff were concerned about the damages sustained by the court and also to the surrounding building.

“I could not believe what has happened to the futsal court when I drove in to check after TC Gita left Tonga,’’ TFA CEO Lui ‘Aho said.

“The red and the blue tiles on top of the court were all rolled to one side of the court and hung over the fence, and it seemed like something that was done deliberately by a group of constructions the other night, but that was actually done by Gita,” ‘Aho added.

Solomon Islands edged New Caledonia 3-2 on Thursday morning, in a top of the table clash, before thrashing Samoa 8-0 to make it four straight wins.

Baby Kurukuru coach Stanley Puairana was excited to secure another six points but has already turned his focus on his team's last day of matches.

"So far we have 12 points and we're getting excited about maybe going to the Olympics but we're still taking it one game at a time, step-by-step," he said.

"Two games in one day is really hard but I know our players will continue to try their best".

The Fijians managed to keep the hosts at until the final minute of the first half, when Kareem Osman broke the deadlock from the penalty spot.

Futsal Whites captain Marvin Eakins doubled the advantage two minutes into the second spell and New Zealand added another six goals to complete an emphatic victory.