TFA, Nuku’alofa: After holding its annual general meeting on 31 March 2004, the Tonga Football Association is now gearing up for a big year when it kicks off its soccer season next week. A pre-season men and women’s tournament will cap of proceedings as the various clubs and teams shake of the off-season cobwebs.
In May, the TFA moves up a gear as the showpiece of its competition schedule, the national premier league commences. In the same month, the TFA will celebrate the inauguration of its goal project in Atele, a realisation of a dream for local soccer officials and fans who now have a place they can truly call home.
The King of Tonga has confirmed his presence at the opening of the new TFA headquarters and academy which is complimented by four quality international standard playing pitches.
The increasingly popular Secondary Schools soccer competition will start in Mid-June. This competition will be run for 10 to 12 weeks.
Presently, the Tonga FA is involved in preparing its national men’s team for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in May. Coach Milan Jankovic did a superb job with the national under 23 team which did well at the January Olympic qualifiers and his influence will again be evident on his senior squad who have been placed in the difficult group 1 for the Stage 1 qualifiers in Honiara alongside hosts Solomon Islands, Tahiti, New Caledonia and polynesian rivals Cook Islands.