EMOTIONS ran high on Monday at the send-off for the Tonga Women’s soccer team.
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The visitors made their Mini World Cup debut last week, but also left behind a legacy of kindness and friendship with those they met along the way.
The Tongan visitors gathered at the Inverell Tourism Centre for a formal farewell.
Everybody received a gift and token from the council, and the team presented Inverell mayor Paul Harmon with a Tonga flag.
Cr Harmon said it was fantastic to host the team in Inverell.
He said the Cup offered the opportunity for a great cultural exchange.
"I think this is one of the big aims of the Mini Word Cup; to unite countries and cultures and I think we really have achieved that this year.”
- Heinrich Haussler
This year, the Tonga team joined the German and New Zealand teams as a third international presence.
“The Tongans have been beautiful people. From all reports I hear, they’ve all been received with open arms,” Cr Harmon said.
Adelaide Tuivailala is the head of women’s football in Tonga. She said they were embraced by the community.
“Ever since we got into Inverell, it was my own opinion that we were welcome and treated so nice,” she said.
The cup was part of the Tongan preparation for the coming Women’s World Cup qualifier in Papua New Guinea, and Ms Tuivailala said the Inverell experience was invaluable.
“The technical assistance that we received from Mr Rale Rasic, the ex-Socceroo coach, is a blessing. He is a legend, he is a hero,” she said.
Goal keeper Lupe Likiliki agreed that the cup provided a good challenge for the team.
“It’s a pretty tough game, especially the New Zealand team. We got lots of experience, because back at home, we only play with Tongan people,” she said.
Ms Likiliki said the Inverell spirit of friendship evoked the feeling back home.
To end the event, the team’s voices swelled in song and harmony, filling the room with words of love and memory about their island home and people.
Cup organiser, Heinrich Haussler, spent a great deal of time with the Tonga team.
He was momentarily choked with emotion at the send-off.
“You are exceptional people. You are beautiful people,” he said.
“And I think this is one of the big aims of the Mini Word Cup; to unite countries and cultures and I think we really have achieved that this year.”
