Coco Sports Talk - Commonwealth Games Edition: Niue Boxing, Tonga Shot Put & Wrestling
Coco Sports Talk with Penina and Ashley - covering all things sports from a Pasifika female lens!
#CocoSportsTalk looks at the many stories of Pasifika people involved in sports of all kinds, and the trials and tribulations of the talented athletes from all sectors of our community.
In this episode we meet a few of the Pasifika athletes who are about to compete in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, UK.
We meet a couple of the young men in the Niue Boxing Team at their fundraising event in Grey Lynn - Duken Williams and Deniro Pao Clarke plus check out their sparring session with legendary fight coach Lolo Heimuli.
We head over to the Kingdom of Tonga to visit rising Tongan shot put star 'Atamaama Tu'utafaiva and then we're back in Auckland to meet a history making wrestling team.
Aaron Leha'uli, John Vake, Sione Sika & Tiger-Lily Cocker-Lemalie are part of the Tongan Wrestling team and it is the first time Tonga have ever had a wrestling team compete at the Commonwealth Games.
Watch the whole show or pick and choose the parts you're interested in below -
00:10 Intro with Ninz & Ash
00:36 Meet Duken Williams & Deniro Pao Clarke from Team Niue Boxing
05:38 Team Niue boxing coach Lolo Heimuli talks about the boys preparation for the Comm Games
07:46 One to watch! Tongan shot put athlete 'Atamaama Tu'utafaiva is a rising star
10:02 Tongan Wrestler John Vake breaks down the history of Wrestling in Tonga for us
12:40 The Tongan wrestling team share how they got into wrestling and more
15:19 Wrap up
15:45 Ninz & Ash out
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In memory of Eliza Truhobovich 13.02.88 - 15.07.22
She was a big part of the Hurtlocker gym, a close friend and huge supporter of Duken & Deniro.
The boys dedicate their Commonwealth Games bid to her memory.
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Edited by Sefa Taouma
Camera Operators - Penina Momoiseā, Sefa Taouma & Joshua Savieti
Interviewers - Ashley Stanley, Penina Momoiseā, Joshua Savieti & Nonga Pulu
Special thank you to our crew in Tonga - Josh & Nox aka Tutu on the Beach
* Additional footage of the Niue boys takalo by Brooke Pao Stanley and additional footage of 'Ata playing rugby thanks to Will Hafu
Public Interest Journalism funded by NZ on Air
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