Mate Ma'a Tonga: father and son hone commitments for upcoming battles Featured
Ben Masila's father 'Epalahame Masila and Duane Mann
15 September, 2019. ‘EPALAHAME Masila, father of Benjamin Murdoch Masila from Challenge Cup winners Warrington, is undeterred in their commitment with his son to the colors of the Mate Ma’a Tonga.
The now world-renowned underdogs Mate Ma’a Tonga team will face off once again against giants in the game Australia, England in October and November.
The die hard team has been hounding the trail of traditional Tier 1 occupiers since last rugby league world cup.
‘Epalahame, “Hame”, says “Ben’s decision playing for Mate Ma’a Tonga was always to represent his family, Tonga, and God.”
Hame has given his blessings to his son to continue his loyalty with Mate Ma’a Tonga.
He said, “The players’ families are very close, many are related, and they already talk to each other and after meeting with Duane Mann I am satisfied and happy with everything.”
Duane Mann, Mate Ma’a Tonga Football Director yesterday met with Hame who maintained his advice to Ben was “focus on the football” and not worry about any off-field issues.
Hame supports the TNRL board and having Duane Mann, Frank Endacott, Manu Vatuvei and others now involved.
“The boys’ loyalty is always with Tonga. The off-field issues will be fixed over time,” he added.
Ben Murdoch Masila plays for Warrington and having recently won the Challenge Cup hopes to add Super League Championships to their success this year.
1 comment
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Malo fau and many thanks both Hame and Duane, as well as the overly committed, dedicated and determined parents, teachers, supporters and, more importantly, our dear loving and lovely but fakatokilalo and faka'aki'akimui players, for seriously living and exhibiting by way of sacrifice the true spirit of "Mate Ma'a Tonga" (that is, to DIE both metaphorically albeit really for Tonga in both life and, if at all necessary and the dire need arises) death to the maximum level and across boundaries and beyond! By "Mate Ma'a Tonga," the motto of both my old Tonga College and of our national team, reference is made to look away outwardly from "self" (that is, selfish, self-centred or siokita) towards Tonga and beyond (siokitu'a) for the good of all! Our Komiti 'Akapulu is yet to change gear from (blindly subjectively) seeing themselves ONLY to (transparently objectively) seeing the whole of Tonga COLLECTIVELY! To live up to "Mate Ma'a Tonga" is to embrace the lanu kula/kulokula (red colour), symbolising the manner of life and indeed the manner of death of Christ on the Kolosi 'oe 'Akaufakalava 'i Kalevale: the greatest sacrifice ever (in comparable ways to the great sacrifice by our very own beloved Kava of Fa'imata from Ha'afeva and Tungua on the island of 'Eueiki in their fulfilling two-way fatongia obligations through the advice of the famous tufungafonua Lo'au to the 'eiki and tapu Tu'i Tonga and His mama)!