{"id":2630,"date":"2022-04-26T21:53:17","date_gmt":"2022-04-26T21:53:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tonga-gov.pt\/?p=2630"},"modified":"2026-04-11T15:57:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T15:57:14","slug":"her-royal-highness-princess-angelika-latufuipeka-tukuaho-the-royal-patron-of-tonga-football-association-bestows-tonga-national-womens-football-team-with-a-special-honour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tonga-gov.pt\/en\/her-royal-highness-princess-angelika-latufuipeka-tukuaho-the-royal-patron-of-tonga-football-association-bestows-tonga-national-womens-football-team-with-a-special-honour\/","title":{"rendered":"Tonga National Women\u2019s Football Team receives Royal Visit"},"content":{"rendered":"

HRH Princess Angelika L\u0101t\u016bfuipeka Tuku\u2019aho warmly welcomed the Tonga National Women\u2019s Football Team, which is currently in Australia to undertake a high-performance training camp in preparation for the OFC Women\u2019s World Cup Qualifying in July 2022.<\/p>\n

During a gathering at the Valentine Sports Park yesterday, Her Royal Highness who is also the High Commissioner of Tonga to Australia and Royal Patron of the Tonga Football Association, commended the squad for their dedication as sportswomen and representatives of the country.<\/p>\n

After meeting each of the players, as well as the traveling party, Her Royal Highness bestowed the team with the traditional moniker \u2018Mataliki\u2019. The name, literally translated as \u201cChiefly eyes\u201d, also refers to the star cluster also known as the Pleiades. It is said to be a reference to the keystone Christian faith of Tonga, as well as the stellar line up of the team. The squad comprises mainly Tonga-based players as well as several from the Tongan diaspora, including national players from Canada, the United States and Australia.<\/p>\n

Her Royal Highness emphasized the importance of godliness in the team\u2019s training and preparations, recalling the national motto, \u2018Ko e \u2018Otua mo Tonga ko hotau tofi\u2019a\u2019, or \u2018God and Tonga are our inheritance\u2019.<\/p>\n

The Tonga Football Association conveyed their gratitude to their Royal Patron for the recognition, pledging to live up to their new title.<\/p>\n

During their stay in Australia, the \u2018Mataliki\u2019 team will be based at the New South Wales Academy. They will face the National Women\u2019s team of the Philippines in two friendly games and three other games with top academies in Australia. The team is also gearing up for the qualifying games to be held in July, competing with fellow Pacific Island teams in Fiji.<\/p>\n