The squad will take part in this year’s event in New Caledonia from August 27 to September 9 and Uele is confident Tonga have the ability to go one better this time and wrestle the title from the grasp of 2007 champions Papua New Guinea.
He believes motivation will not be a factor.
“I have every confidence that our team will give their best for Tonga as we take on the likes of Fiji, Cook Islands and Guam in our pool,” he says.
Uele and Moa have named Penateti Feke as their captain and the 21-year-old will be supported in the role by vice-captains Salome Vaenuku and Kiana Mu’amoholeva.
Feke and Mu’amoholeva both took part in Tonga’s disappointing showing at the OFC Women’s Nations Cup in Auckland last September, a campaign led by Uele in a head coach role, and much will be expected of the skipper after she won the golden boot at the 2007 Games in Samoa with four strikes.
Another player with a key role to play is goalkeeper Mele Likiliki, who was a nominee for the 2008 OFC Women’s Player of the Year award.
Adelaide Tuivailala, head of women’s football for the Tonga Football Association, says the players are determined to bring home gold and will take part in a pre-Games tour of New Zealand to make sure they are ready.
“We have made arrangements with New Zealand Football and booked friendly games with their U-17 and U-20 women’s national teams over the next two weeks,” she says.
Two matches against a women’s team from the Hibiscus Coast club have also been pencilled in for the New Zealand sojourn.
Tonga women’s squad for the XIV Pacific Games
Mele Teukalupe LIKILIKI
Kulia FILO
Emelita MOALA
Kiana Tuituimoeao MU’AMOHOLEVA
Olive Nancy MATEIALONA
Atelaite MANU
Penateti Lapiuingi FEKE
Salome Sela VA’ENUKU
Neomai Lototonunga TUPOU
Vea FUNAKI
Eseta Fifita Tapiano VI
Suliana Latu UTA’ATU
Buccilea ONGOLEA
Alamoni Uinikoni Paeahelotu VUNGAMOEAHI
Pauline Paea He TONGA
Siaila LA’AKULU
Wendy FEKE
Ofa Loto Ki La’ei Tutulu LA’AKULU
Tangimausia MA’AFU
Tania SILAKIVAI
Team management:
Coach: Penieli MOA
Technical advisor: Kilifi Solia UELE
Team manager: Adelaide TU’IVAILALA
Head of delegation: Saane LATUNIPULU
For more news and information on Tonga football go to www.tongafootball.to

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