Instead Tukia, along with his U-13 teammates and the Tonga U-15 squad headed to Onehunga for a Futsal Coaching Clinic.
Led by OFC Futsal and Beach Soccer Development Officer Paul Toohey, the group learnt the basics of the small-sided game before launching into a series of games.
Toohey says it great to be able to give some of Tonga’s youth an introduction to the game of futsal.
“Soon they will have a futsal court at the Tonga Football Association technical centre, and the game is set to form a good part of the TFA Football Development Programme.”
Toohey adds that it was great to see, not only how much the kids enjoyed the session, but also how much they progressed in a short space of time.
“They improved quite rapidly,” he says, “and you can tell by the sound in the futsal hall how much they’re enjoying it.”
“The amount of noise they made inside on Monday was really encouraging.”
Following the games Toohey held a juggling contest, giving players from both teams the chance to win themselves a futsal ball to take home to Tonga at the end of their trip.
Tukia caught Toohey’s eye with his impressive performance, and it turns out it’s not the first time.
“During the FIFA Futsal/Beach Soccer hybrid coaching course I ran in Tonga in May, we got the kids together to show us their juggling skills and he won it,” he says.
For Tukia it was another reward for the hours he puts in practicing at home.
“I practice every day. I take the ball and play in the back garden,” the youngster says.
“It’s very hard but doing it every day means I get used to it and I think it will get easier.”
Juggling is an excellent method for improving ball skills and that all-important first touch, something Toohey says is crucial in futsal.
“I’m really encouraged by the way TFA has seized on the importance of the first touch and have encouraged a culture of juggling,” Toohey says.
“What we saw was comparable with anything else in the region for players of that age.”

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