Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Getting a taste of the Commonwealth Games, Diamonds star Cara Koenen says it’s only a matter of time until Tonga becomes a netball powerhouse.
From starting with nothing to cobbling a team together via social media, the Tala left their mark in Glasgow by beating Wales 63-53 for the exclamation mark on their debut Games.
The world No.8 team finished ninth in the 12-team competition, also beating Northern Ireland in a pool game to win two out of six matches.
It is just the latest chapter in Tonga’s remarkable rise in international netball, having built from scratch – no training facilities, no coach, no players – in 2014.
The Diamonds crushed Tonga 99-38 in their pool clash.
But, witnessing promising signs at the Hydro, Australian goalshooter Koenen can see a future where Tonga’s stars are mixing it up in Super Netball or in the UK’s Netball Super League.
The Tala were led in Glasgow by former Queensland Firebirds co-captain Hulita Veve and ex-Melbourne Mavericks goalshooter Uneeq Palavi, with 19-year-old Isabella Fainga’anuku part of the 12-person squad.
“It’s already so competitive for spots in Super Netball, but who knows what could happen?” Coenen told AAP.
“It’s really awesome to see Tonga earn their first spot representing the Pacific.
“They’ve come so far in such a short amount of time, and they will continue to go from strength to strength with experiences like this.
“They still have such a young group that it’s really cool to see the amazing things that they’re doing on court.
“With more exposure and more resources, I’m sure it won’t be long before they’re mixing it with the top five nations.”
Tonga’s flag bearer in Glasgow, Veve, urged her country’s netballers to dream big.
“It definitely opens doorways for our country,” Australia-born Veve told AAP.
“Some of these girls don’t have the opportunity to be seen.
“Being seen on the big world stage for those little boys and girls in Tonga to see is huge for us.
“Even if you live in Australia or New Zealand and you are Tongan, this is achievable – you’ve just got to put your mind to it.”
The Tala turn their attentions to next year’s World Cup in Sydney, hosting Oceania qualifiers in September.
Tonga coach Jaqua Pori-Makea-Simpson beamed with pride after wrapping up in Glasgow, having come a long way since joining the team in 2019.
Pori-Makea-Simpson had formed her squad by scouring the internet in 2022, going on to win the inaugural 2022 PacificAus Sports Netball Series in Sydney.
“None of us knew each other. We had no uniforms, we had no equipment,” Pori-Makea-Simpson told AAP.
“We rocked up to Sydney Airport, and we just tried to look for tallish Tongan girls who looked lost.
“It’s incredible what trust, faith, connection, and culture can actually do for people. It’s a remarkable story.”
