Coco Talanoa — Sports / Page 1
Rugby: Our Samoan International Women Captains around the world
Manu Sina shared this tweet last night and we had to take a closer look at these amazing women representing around the globe "An outstanding statistic in @WorldRugby where 5 captains in recent times are Samoans. Tama'ita'i leading from the front. #uso
Amazing because Samoa is a small island nation in the middle of the Pacific with a total population of just over 197,000 and to have FIVE Samoan women captaining international teams is an exceptional achievement!
and amazing because 4 of these women captain Tier 1 nations teams.
We take a closer look at these captains and their achievements starting with the Manu Sina (Samoa's Womens Rugby) captain.
MASUISUIMATAMA'ALI'I (SUI) TAUAUA-PAUARAISA
Captain: Manu Sina (Samoa)
Sui has been described by the Star Kiwi in Canterbury as the definition of a real-life Wonder Woman.…more
VAI SIKAHEMA - SOLE BROTHERS
Watch the beautiful story of how former NFL players Vai Sikahema and Barret Brooks are bonded for life over a simple act of Kindness.
Vai Sikahema has been a pioneer for his island nation of Tonga. He's the first Tongan to win a football scholarship to Brigham Young University, the first Tongan to play in the National Football League and the first Tongan to play in the Pro Bowl.
Upon retiring from the NFL in 1994, Vai was hired by then-CBS owned and operated television station WCAU in Philadelphia to do weekend sports. He later moved to weekdays, becoming a morning news anchor as well as the station's sports director.
In 2002, Vai graduated from BYU — 17 years after he left the school to join the NFL! As of 2018, he's been at WCAU for 24 years. He also regularly contributes a column, generally related to religion rather than sports topics, to the Deseret News.
Credit: NFL Films
TUA TAGOVAILOA - HEISMAN TROPHY FINALIST
Each year in December The Heisman Memorial Trophy aka the Heisman Trophy or The Heisman, is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football in the United States whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work.
This year Samoan Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (born and raised in Hawaii) who plays for the Alabama Crimson Tide is a finalist. It's the first time in 84 years that the top 3 vote getters are Quarterbacks of colour!
Another Samoan Quarterback born in Hawai'i - Marcus Mariota won the Heisman in 2014.
The 2018 winner of the award will be announced tomorrow night in New York. All the best Tua! Check out his 2018 highlight reel in the video above.
TIM CAHILL - ALL 50 OF HIS GOALS FOR AUSTRALIA
Australia's Socceroos greatest & most iconic personality - Samoan footballer Tim Cahill played his last international game for Australia against Lebanon yesterday! Congratulations on an amazing career!
After the game he was given a standing ovation and had the following words to say to his fans
“This is the only time you’re going to see me cry,” Cahill began.
“I want to say thank you, firstly to my family. For being there from day one, the sacrifices my family made for me is the reason why every time I step on that pitch I’m fearless, I’m free. Nothing can hurt me on the pitch and everything I do is for my family.
“Secondly, I want to thank my teammates and all the staff that I’ve worked with. The coaches, the players, without you guys I’ll be nothing, honestly I’ll be nothing. The coaches that are not here, the players that are not here, thank you very much from the bottom of my heart.
“Now, the most important people as well, is the fans.…more
Roman Reigns battle with Leukaemia forces him to relinquish Universal Championship
Earlier this evening on Monday Night Raw, the WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns revealed that he was battling leukaemia and would be stepping away from the ring & relinquishing the Universal Champion belt.
The 33 year old Samoan wrestler whose real name is Leati Joseph Anoa'i left the crowd speechless as he let them know he'd been battling the disease for the last 11 years.
Moments after announcing that his returning leukemia had forced him to relinquish the Universal Championship, he was met with an outpouring of support backstage.…more
Andrew Fifita leads the Tongan Sipi Tau against Australia
For the first time in history, Australia faced off against the Mate Ma'a Tonga & their Sipi Tau.
Andrew Fifita led the Tongan Sipi Tau for the first time. Captain Sika Manu said in the post match interview that off the back of Jason Taumalolo leading it against the Kiwis in the World Cup last year, that Andrew would be the right person to lead it against his old team.
Tonga vs Australia national anthems
Tears flowed freely down the faces of the Mate Ma'a Tonga team in an emotional moment as young Lotima Nicholas Pome'e aka General Fiyah performed the Tongan national anthem with 26,000+ Tongan fans.
The Australian side had braced themselves for a sea of red & passionate Tongan supporters but they weren't expecting the level of respect shown them by the crowd when the full stadium launched into the Australian national anthem and sang along with Graham Isa'ako.
Dane Gagai summed up the moment in his post match interview with Fox News “The most amazing moment for me was when the crowd started singing the Australian national anthem”
Man of the match James Tedesco said "It was unbelievable at the start of the game they were all singing the Australian national anthem as well - they just love rugby league and to come out here and support their Tongan nation ....…more
Mate Ma'a Tonga - The Revolution
Professor Toeolesulusulu Damon Salesa on Mate Ma'a Tonga and the politics of Pacific rugby and league!
Terron Beckham in Samoa - Samoan Weightlifters
The secret behind Samoa’s incredible weightlifting success
Terron Beckham (well known fitness & sports industry personality - he's also NFL star Odell Beckham Jrs cousin) travels to Samoa to see what it takes for Samoans to chase their weightlifting dreams and lift the small Pacific island to be among the best in the world.
Be sure to check out the full video which features interviews with Samoa's top weighlifters, Samoa's weightlifting federation coach as well as Terron checking out Samoa's gyms and observing their culture on the Olympic Channel here as part of the Olympic Channels 'Olympic Outposts' series.
JORDAN MAILATA - Journey From Australian Rugby League hopeful to Eagles Draft Pick | NFL Undiscovered
Meet Jordan Mailata, the 6-foot-8, 345-pound, former rugby league player from Sydney, Australia.
Today the young 21 year old Samoan has achieved the improbable and made the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles roster! It's an incredible feat considering he's only played his first American football game four weeks ago and the list of talented, experienced Eagles players cut on Saturday.
Jordan has left a successful career in Australia to try and achieve the impossible – making an NFL roster, with no knowledge or previous experience of playing the game of American football.
This video from NFL Undiscovered follows his journey from an Australian Rugby League hopeful to Eagles Draft Pick.