26 ARMYSPORT
Jackie Tuala knows a thing or two about managing sports teams.
SGT Jackie Tuala’s accomplishments 2019 Touch Rugby New Zealand Touch U18 Boys Manager (Youth TransTasman Jan 2020)
Her name is synonymous with Touch Rugby and Rugby League in both the New Zealand Army and the wider Manawatu region. That devotion and dedication has earned her the Army’s Supreme Sports Award for 2019. “I feel very humbled – it was totally unexpected,” she says. SGT Tuala is the HR Manager (S1) at QAMR and has three teenage children. All of them play Touch and Rugby League at National Level, with one of her sons making NZ U18s for Touch this year. “As a family our lives have pretty well revolved around sport. I used to play, but as I got older and more prone to injury I decided to turn my hand to management. “I believe when you take on a job you should give it your everything, and I suppose I have done that. When I was a coach I had high expectations of my managers. Now I have high expectations of my players. I put a lot of effort in behind the scenes and I expect my players to do the same by turning up for training and giving 100%.” She sees her role as a sports team manager as being responsible for everything other than training the players. “A manager looks after the players’ welfare, travel, equipment, attends meetings. There is always a lot to do but I really enjoy it. “I am extremely thankful to my husband John who continues to support me in everything I do. My family is my “Why” and without them, the accomplishments would not be possible.”
New Zealand Touch U16 Boys Manager (Tour Sunshine Coast Sep 2019) Manawatu Touch U18 Boys Manager New Zealand Army Men’s Touch Manager (2nd year) Committee Member Linton Army Touch Club Coordinator and Managers QAMR Touch Teams 2019 Rugby League Manawatu Rugby League U17 Boys Manager Taranaki Whanui Maori Rugby League U17 Boys Manager (Runners Up) Manawatu Mustangs Premier Men’s Team Manager New Zealand Army Rugby League Women’s rep and Committee Member 2019 Linton Sports Awards Administrator of the Year
YOUNG BASKETBALLER AIMING HIGH Covid-19 has put a bit of a dampener on Lance Corporal Tamika Taikato’s sporting year, but she is still delighted to be named the Army’s Young Sportsperson of the Year. A movements operator, LCPL Taikato received the award for her prowess playing basketball, but she also plays volleyball and netball. Being 6ft tall is a decided advantage. “I played basketball in year 12 and 13 at college, but only picked it up again last year. I’m still learning but I love the sport.” She plays for a Linton Army team, and also for the NZDF women’s basketball team. The latter hasn’t seen much action this year however, especially after Auckland went into Level 3 lockdown. Many of the team’s members are Navy women who couldn’t practise together or travel. “It has been so disappointing because it was going to be a close competition. Hopefully we can get to the Nationals in Tauranga at Labour Weekend.”
Other awards made at the annual Army Sports Awards: Individual Sports Person of the Year: CPL Sione Akau (See the October issue of Army News) Team of the Year: Mixed netball Official of the Year: Warrant Officer Class Two Lawrence Colvin New Zealand Army Colours were presented to WO2 Jason Kuru for services to Army basketball, and to Mr Richie Player, for services to Army rugby.
