Coco Talanoa — Sports / Page 1
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.
LULU TUILOTOLAVA - First Tongan Black Stick named in World Cup Team!
22 year old Lulu Tuilotolava just became the FIRST Tongan to have made the Black Sticks Hockey team (NZ's National Womens Hockey Team) after being called up in May for the Tri Series against Australia and Japan & now again as part of the World Cup Squad who will be playing in England this month!
The 18 strong squad features 17 of the players who won Gold at the Commonwealth Games in April ... and Lulu! A spot became available in the team after midfielder Pippa Hayward retired.
Lulu was just 5 years old when her Dad, William Tuilotolava decided he wanted his children to play hockey. He had struck up a conversation with former Black Stick Caryn Paewai at the airport and then went home and told his wife he wanted his kids to get into hockey and since then Lulu and all of her siblings have played.
She started playing at Southern Districts Hockey Club in South Auckland and there weren't many other Pacific Islanders playing the sport but she said that it's slowly changing.…more
Samoan Basketball Comp
40 Samoan teams from Australia, Samoa and New Zealand compete in the Auckland Samoan Basketball Competition!