Winitana says it is this privilege that keeps players impassioned to the cause and it’s his role is to foster this culture. The players are not paid, so their reward comes from the privilege of representing the country and being part of the Tall Blacks family. It’s a new position in the Tall Blacks camp, but one that is so important to the team because it is the culture that knits the team together. Paora Winitana was appointed to the role of Cultural Ambassador in 2017 during the World Cup Qualifiers campaign heading to 2019. The Tū Kaha message we sent out today was a small way of letting people know we are coming home and we are going out to stand strong, but we can only do it with New Zealanders by our side,” says Winitana. We haven’t been able to do that on home soil in so long, but now we finally get to battle at home, defend our home turf, so we want to make our fans proud. “Every player who pulls on the black singlet feels immense pride and honour through the privilege of their position. But will the New Zealand public get in behind the team? Winitana says that he believes so, particularly if they feel connected to what the team stands for, which is ultimately their fellow Kiwis.
STAND STRONG TOGETHER MAORIA WINDOWS
Every result during the qualifying windows effect New Zealand’s chances of being represented at the 2019 FIBA World Cup. The Tall Blacks are about to play vital test matches that are World Cup qualifiers. So there’s a deeper meaning for Kiwis who are willing to allow the Tall Blacks to represent them, because this lesson should be embraced off-court too,” says Winitana.Īlthough Tall Blacks fans have been starved of seeing important home games for years, the new FIBA system will see that remedied. It’s about the strength we gain from all those around us, which helps us overcome the many challenges we all face in life. So the notion of ‘togetherness’ is ingrained in the meaning of Tū Kaha.
“When we perform Tū Kaha, our haka, and play as the Tall Blacks, we do it with all Tall Blacks who have ever played for our country before and we do it with the people of New Zealand in our hearts and minds – that includes families, friends, our communities and the nation. He says he hopes it’s a lesson that spreads to all New Zealanders that follow the Tall Blacks. The essence of Tū Kaha is a lesson that the former Tall Black, Paora Winitana, instructs to all debutants that come into the Tall Blacks camp. But it also refers to the Tall Blacks haka, called Tū Kaha O Pango Te Kahikatea.
In that message Tall Blacks Captain Mika Vukona says ‘Tu Kaha’, which means ‘stand strong’. In November 2017 the Tall Blacks released a message on their Facebook page, called Tū Kaha New Zealand, calling on Kiwis to stand with the team in their quest for a place at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China.
0 kommentar(er)
