Brian Harkin to The New York TimesTrinity High of Angelica, TeX, the nation's most prestigious preparation team has 16 players of Tonga descent.EULESS, TeX - announcers of public address in games for discharge from Trinidad, most prestigious prep football team, sometimes without realizing nation account names players spin in which Pacific Islander considered as swear words. Any other in this State, the land of "Friday Night Lights", where high school games can draw tens of thousands of fans, these mispronunciations not be a problem. But Trojans Trinidad barely fit the familiar image of the Texas gridiron.
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Brian Harkin to the New York TimesFrom left, Setefano Maile, Sioeli Pauni, Elikena Fieilo (squatting), Vaimaali Sapoi and l. T. Tuipulotu are starters for discharge from Trinidad.A pipeline from the Kingdom of Tonga, Pacific has delivered a Polynesian influence to churches of this city, markets and which won State titles in 2005 and 2007 among the largest in Texas schools Football Championship. Descent Tonga players brought about imposing size, strength and resistance to Trojans and the need for a list of phonetic spelling for advertisers.
"That would leave cursing it", says Ofa Faiva-Siale, Manager of projects for Angelica parks and Community Services Department.
Students at Trinity 53 languages spoken, and 31 Nations flags hung at the entrance of the school. The proximity of Euless of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, which lies partly within the limits of the city, has provided a remarkable diversity this 54,000 people.
Thirteen of 24 players of Trinidad, which made all-state since the Decade of 1980 and 16 members of the current list, are of Tonga descent.
"When you think of Texas high school football, think of the country, farm children; children" don't expect to see players from the South Pacific, said Sioeli Pauni, who has two children on Trinidad team."
The parents of many players work in Dallas-Fort Worth Airport as baggage handlers and food service employees facilitate affordable travel special family occasions. Others are self-employed as masons, carpenters, and landscapers. Meanwhile, his sons are decisive linemen and linebackers, weighing between 200 to 333 pounds and are a good similar physical effort for the national sport of Tongan rugby football.
Each time you touch a defensive lineman at his back, Uatakini Cocker, 2 6 foot, 297-pound offensive tackle, shouting: "mate ma' Tonga," which means "You die to Tonga". Later, the playful Cocker said, he often has to explain their heritage to oppose players and fans in this typical postgame conversation:
"Are you Mexican?"
"Polynesia".
"Samoa?"
"Tonga".
"O.K., because it would be a very large Mexican."
The presence of 3,000 to 4,000 Tongans here has provided an unmistakable touch of Polynesia Euless and height of Trinidad. The Hawaiian market Announces kava root used for a traditional drink. A non-profit organization called voice of Tonga addresses concerns about immigration, culture, language and health and emits a program, including Trinidad stresses soccer, local cable TV.
Free of Tonga, the First United Methodist Church Tongan Church and the first Church Assembly Dios Tonga: three of nine affiliated churches Tongan zone: sit in or near South Main Street. A Catholic chaplain who is Tongan, visit several times a year from San Francisco, but must work to their schedule around the season of football, said Faiva-Siale.
"I call and say: 'Don' t come this weekend;" We are in the playoffs. Display only two or three people,' "Said Faiva-Siale."
Half of Trinidad 2.189 in grades 10 to 12 students are colour white, with a roughly equal of black and Hispanic and approximately 275 Asian and Pacific Islander mixture. This year's football team is represented by at least eight Nations, Laos to Rwanda. Nine of the 22 starters are Tongans.
"Makes you a better person, learn to accept different people," said Dontrayevous Robinson, star running back for the Trinity, who is African-American.
Trinity has a club of Polynesia, and Polynesian students often chorus of membership and participation in the arts. Often, they are elected homecoming King and Queen, said coaches. Music ukulele around on the schoolyard to 12.00 hours and between classes. Occasionally, someone takes a traditional lava-lava sarong. Before and after each football match, players Tongans have a ceremonial computer war called a haka dance.
Around 10 Polynesian players Trinidad (5-0) now are playing college football.
«More articles in sports» version of this article appeared on 8 October 2008, printed on page A1 of the New York Edition.
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