Four students from the ‘Ātui’anga ki te Tango (AKTT) Volleyball programme will be departing for New Zealand on October 11 for more indoor volleyball action.

They are Twina Tangirere, Jacques Koteka, Te-Ati Motu, and Ngatokoa Sherwin.

The 19U players join the Country of Origin International selection of men’s and women’s teams comprising of players who played across the various teams that competed in the Country of Origin Volleyball Series in New Zealand in July. The International selection will be playing a test series against New Caledonia and Samoa at One Tree Hill College from October 13 to 21.

The AKTT boys have been training under coach Jackie Rongo since 2021, who assembled a young development team comprising of students in the AKTT programme run by NGO, Kōrero o te ‘Ōrau. Subsequently, Rongo assembled a ladies development team as well.

Rongo says that in order to play for AKTT, players must make a commitment to keep clean habits of no smoking, no vaping, no drinking alcohol, and no illegal drugs to be able to access the opportunities that come their way through their involvement with the programme.

“It is a hardline stance I’m taking, but I want our kids to know that they must make these choices in order to aim for the next level. They must look after their bodies as well as their minds,” Rongo said. “I’m proud of what these four have been able to achieve and seizing the opportunity in front of them.”

Rongo says there has been a lot of heartbreak for her and the students that have fallen off because they couldn’t stay clean.

“I had to ask them to take a break from the team. I would cry for them and the bright opportunities they are missing because of the wrong choices they made,” she said.

However, she said the door is always open and there is a pathway back if they choose to keep clean and stay on track.

“If I can teach them these important lessons while they are still young, perhaps it will save them a lifetime of ill health in the future as well as give them the discipline to reach the next level on their journey through life.”

Rongo wished Tangirere, Koteka, Motu, and Sherwin well on the next step of their journey, and encouraged them to keep aiming for the stars.