A special charter flight from Tonga flew in on Monday morning to transport the Niue Darts team to the 3rd Pacific Darts Championship being held in Nuku’alofa this week. On the same flight from Tonga was the Tonga Golf Team here to compete in a 3-day 54-hole tournament with Niue’s Golf Team.
Meanwhile, Niue’s Darts led by President of the Niue Darts Association, Dempster Tomailuga, this afternoon started their competition up against Vanuatu. Some of their supporters would fly to Tonga from Auckland to join the team. The teams include two sets of brothers in the Tahega and Mautama brothers.
The mens team are San Juan Talagi, Tom Cooper Tahega, Eugene Mautama, Stuey Mautama, Floyd Viliamu and Laufoli Tahega.
The women’s team are Deborah Akeimo, Palahemoka Kalauni, Suefane Touna, Judy Seumanu, Narita Viliamu-Tahega, Nise Ioane, Seini Vakanofiti, Tifi Tomailuga, and Linda Tomailuga. Fans can watch Team Niue games live on their social media Facebook page.
Aside from the Niue Darts team, the flight was filled with supporters, many of whom welcomed the opportunity to visit their families and relatives in Tonga. Saemone Tongia from Makefu was very happy to support team Niue and visit his homeland. The last time he was in Tonga was eight years ago.
In the men’s competition at the 3rd Pacific Darts Championships teams from Tonga, Niue, Cook Islands, Solomon Is, Fiji, and Vanuatu.
Four island nations will compete in the women’s competition including Tonga, Niue, Cook Islands, and Vanuatu.
Darts is the fastest-growing sport in Niue, with regular competitions on the island.
The group of supporters welcome the opportunity to visit their relatives in Tonga and said that it would be wonderful if there was a regular air services link between Niue and our closest neighbor, the Kingdom of Tonga.
The Niue Darts team and their supporters will return to Niue on Monday next week and the Tonga Golf team will return home.