“I was surprised to hear that we even had a team,” said Maikeli Lomu, a football midfielder from Texas who moved to Tonga with the dream of playing in the FIFA World Cup. Lomu, who sold everything and relocated with his family, shared his story on PMN Tonga, recounting his unexpected path to representing Tonga’s national football team, Tu’ulalupe.
“I thought Tongans didn’t play soccer at all,” he admitted, reflecting on his surprise at discovering a Facebook post by the Tonga Football Association calling for international players. Having sold his pottery studio in the U.S., Lomu and his family packed up and joined the Tongan national team.
Although Lomu didn’t reveal if he’s related to rugby legend Jonah Lomu, he noted that his brief time spent in Tonga in his 20s cemented his connection to the island and its culture. “To be part of the national team and hear the anthem… it strengthened that bond.”
When Lomu arrived, the team had not played in four years, and some players lacked proper equipment. “I was surprised to see many of them with ripped boots,” he shared. Thanks to family support, new boots were brought in, giving the team a fresh start.
Despite their best efforts, Tu’ulalupe fell short in the Oceania pre-qualifiers, losing to Samoa. However, for Lomu, representing Tonga was a deeply emotional experience. “When they played the FIFA and Tonga national anthems, I started to cry… I was grateful to be in that position.”
Lomu plans to continue training and aims to help Tonga in future qualifiers, hoping that growing football programs in Tonga will develop young talent for international play.
The first round of FIFA Oceania qualifiers begins on October 10 in Suva, Fiji.
Source: Pacific Media Network
