The Tongan Tala national women’s netball team travel to Glasgow this week to compete at the Commonwealth Games, ready to face the best.
Tonga Netball chief executive Salote Sisifa told RNZ Pacific the side have had a good preparation run in Cardiff in the past week, where they also played two friendly internationals against Wales.
Tonga, ranked eighth, lost 64-57 and 65-52 to Wales, who are seventh in world ranking.
Sisifa said despite the two loses the team played well and are better off with the experience.
She said they are grateful to Wales Netball for the matches, and the team heads to Glasgow this week ready for the competition ahead of them.
“Team are good and we are happy with the results,” Sisifa said on Monday.
“We could’ve done better. But this is the purpose of these matches for the team to play together and test themselves.
“You understand the structure of Tala … it’s the first time they’ve played together again since last September in Tonga.”
The Tongan Tala team to the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Facebook / Tonga Netball
Sisifa said the team has prepared well under coach Jaqua Pori-Makea-Simpson and her coaching team.
The players, who are spread out over Australia, New Zealand and Tonga, only got together last week to travel to Wales.
“So, to see them gel in very little time we are happy they’re able to sort themselves and get the feel early, and also acclimatise,” Sisifa said.
“Shake off nerves and be ready for Glasgow and the tough games ahead.
“We have been in Wales pre camp, played two games and had five trainings.”
Tonga, the only Pacific Island team at the competition, are in Pool A along with England, South Africa, Malawi and Northern Ireland.
Pool B has New Zealand, Jamaica, Wales, Uganda, Scotland and Trinidad and Tobago.
Australia is Tonga’s first opponent on 25 July, followed by South Africa, England and then Malawi in their last pool match.
The top two teams from each pools will meet in the semifinals on 1 August, with the final scheduled for 2 August.
