Tonga sports development

Takitoa Taumoepeau is backing a call by former 'Ikale Tahi rugby captain, Inoke Afeaki, who is arguing for a new approach to be embraced by those in charge of Tonga's national sporting bodies.

"We have about 36 National Federation members, and out of those 36, I would say about 30 percent are quite active in their sport or national federation. The rest are more or less drifting or floating and to me that comes down to the governance and administration of respective sports," Taumoepeau said.

The council made the decision after reviewing Team Tonga’s performance at the 2019 Samoa Pacific Games where athletes won a total of 29 medals.

TSC Chairman, who was also the Chef de Mission to the games, 'Ikani Taliai, Netina Latu and Programme Coordinator, Inoke ‘Afeaki, confirmed that the council will now focus on continuing to train athletes, prepare sporting competitions and make use of funding received.

The council will also give talented athletes a pathway where they could make a living.