Tonga and Samoa Special Olympic teams in Partnership with OFC Just Play Programme Compete at Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles ^Featured

Football Federation Samoa was the first OFC Member Association to partner with a branch of the Special Olympics back in 2011. A partnership which progressed from the introduction of Just Play to Samoa in 2010.

Meanwhile in Tonga Just Play has been involved with the Ofa Tui Amanaki (OTA) Disability Centre, under the Tonga Red Cross, since 2013.

Now both countries are sending squads to compete at the World Games for the first time.

The World Games brings together 6,500 athletes and 2,000 coaches representing 165 countries and this year's edition, which the football teams from Tonga and Samoa have both been invited to attend, is one of the largest sports and humanitarian events being held in 2015.

Samoa's Special Olympics branch enjoyed international success in 2013 at the Aisa Pacific Games, picking up a gold medal in the girl's division and bronze in the boy's.

They have put together a squad of eight girls to take part in the Unified Sports Experience Football, a five-a-side game with 15 minute halves and a brief half-time break.

Director of Special Olympics Samoa Tuitina Nu'uvali is excited about the inclusion of the football team and says having Nadia Malifa as head coach is another example of the strong partnership between Just Play and Special Olympics.

"Football as a sport has contributed tremendously in strengthening the Special Olympics movement in Samoa through the Just Play Programme," Nu'uvali says.

"This team will be coached by Nadia Malifa, a FFS Just Play development officer who is making her debut as head coach.

"Nadia is another indication of our strong partnership. She has been a great role model to our athletes and volunteers and we're grateful to have her lead our football team."

For Tonga's young side the World Games will be their first taste of international football, and they too have found themselves with a strong Just Play link leading the way.

Tonga Football Association (TFA) Just Play technical coordinator Lui Muavesi is the head coach of Tonga's Special Olympics football team and he is joined by Just Play development officer for the Western District and Ha'apai Islands Lafele Moala - also an international footballer - who is volunteer assistant coach.

Just Play Project Manager Palu Uhatahi says one of the Tonga Just Play team's goals is to ensure equal opportunities to all, and the involvement of members of the OTA in the Just Play Programme has helped them achieve that.

"Lui and Lafele's experience with the Just Play Programme has translated well to the roles they have taken on with the Special Olympics team as they have so much to contribute."

Tonga's travelling group include athletes Tevita Telini, Fane Helu, Tuataleva Fehoko and Tomasi Ma'asi, the coaches Muavesi and Moala, manager Vanessa Heleta and family members of the athletes and their carer.

The Special Olympics World Games are being held from 26 July to 2 August in Los Angeles in the United States of America.

Source: oceaniafootball.com