Tonga eyes bigger tourney

He said they hoped to attract teams from Tahiti and other Pacific countries for the next carnival, including other Australian and New Zealand teams.

Already the Wellington and Brisbane sides have shown an merest in returning and promise to bring more players.

To ensure the carnival ran smoothly the TLTA flew Wellington professional coach Len Kane and long-time Fiji ennis stalwart Patrick Dianirova to Nuku’alofa a week before he competition started to organise and co-ordinate the ournament.

The TLTA also organised things like a letter writing ompetition for children to say why they love tennis plus a lumber of social events including a trip to an island resort. This nsuied the players, officials and spectators not only enjoyed ,ood tennis but enjoyed their week-and-a-halfstay in the island ingdom - a big plus when trying to attract players back and Lire new ones.

But most of all what Tonga has weighed heavily in its favour ; it has a head start. A head start, using their own initiative, ver other regional countries in organising a well-run tennis Durnament for this part of the world. Added to that Tonga as already got a foot in the right door in terms of player

evelopment.

Things can only get better. □

LOCAL STRENGTH: Lavinia Fevango boasts tennis strength which exists on Tongatapu.