Page 38 - IB April 24

Sports
TRADE MARK CAUTIONARY NOTICE IN MICRONESIA AND PALAU
VAKA CARRIES THE TORCH FOR NEW ZEALAND MILK BRANDS LIMITED, a New Zealand, of 109 Fanshawe Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand does hereby
provide notice that it claims proprietorship of the trade mark
TONGA’S SOCCER ASPIRATIONS ANCHOR

in relation to:
Except for 1991, when they didn’t qualify, the tiny Pacific
Island nation of Tonga has participated at every Rugby World Dietetic foods, substances, beverages and meal replacements adapted for nutritional use; food for babies and infants including milk
Cup since the tournament’s inception in 1987. powder for babies and infants; milk protein supplements; dietary supplements, intended to supplement a normal diet or to have
Rugby is Tonga’s most popular sport, with their 2007 and health benefits; vitamins and vitamin formulations for human consumption; mineral supplements for foodstuffs; nutritional additives,
2011 World Cup outings rated as their best performances supplements and cultures; probiotic cultures, preparations and substances; prebiotic cultures, preparations and substances; bac-
when they won two matches – one of them an upset victory in terial and biological preparations for nutritional purposes; cultures of micro-organisms; nutritional supplement energy bars; energy
bars used as nutritional supplements; probiotic bars used as dietary supplements; dietary food supplements in the nature of ready-
2011 over eventual finalists, France. to-eat protein bars; food and beverages fortified with vitamins and minerals for humans.
On the other hand, football in Tonga is described by the
Oceania Football Center as being “in a different situation”. Dairy products in this class; dairy based beverages and powders; milk; milk products; milk powder; UHT (ultra high temperature)
The Center says although it has developed in recent years, milk; ESL (extended shelf life) milk; condensed milk; milk substitutes; lactose-free milk; non-dairy milk substitutes; plant and vege-
football in Tonga “is still not one of the most famous sports in table based milk substitutes; soy milk being milk substitute; soy-based beverages being milk substitutes; pea milk; milk made from
the country”. legumes; milk of plant origin; coconut milk being milk substitute; coconut milk beverages; coconut milk for cooking; nut based milk for
use as a milk substitute; almond milk being milk substitute; almond milk based beverages; peanut milk being milk substitute; cashew
“One person who can change that in the coming years milk being milk substitute; hazelnut milk being milk substitute; cereal based milk for use as a milk substitute; sesame milk being milk
is Laveni Vaka,” the Center said in an article on its substitute; coconut milk being milk substitute; oat milk; oat-based beverages being milk substitute; rice milk being milk substitute;
website after Vaka, a United States-born player of Tongan rice-based beverages (milk substitutes) being liquid meal replacements; hemp milk being milk substitute; millet milk being milk sub-
heritage represented Tonga in the 2018 Oceania Football stitute; malted milk being milk substitutes; malted milk beverages, milk predominating; chia milk (milk substitute); soya-based bev-
Confederation (OFC) Women’s Nations Cup. erages used as milk substitutes; yoghurt based on milk substitutes; fermented milk substitutes; beverages based on fermented milk
substitutes; flavoured beverages based on milk substitutes; beverages based on milk substitutes flavoured with chocolate, cocoa,
This year, Vaka stepped into professional league women’s coffee or tea; non-dairy milk powder; almond milk in powder form; dairy substitutes; dairy products based on milk substitutes; milk
soccer in the US, securing a contract with the Bay Football concentrate; flavoured milk; flavoured milk powder; goat milk; flavoured goat milk; goat milk products; goat milk powder; flavoured
Club, a professional soccer club in the San Francisco Bay Area goat milk powder; sheep milk; sheep milk products; flavoured sheep milk; sheep milk powder; flavoured sheep milk powder; milk
that’s part of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in protein; protein milk; cream (dairy products); butter; edible oils; edible fats; cheese; whey; yoghurt; dessert products in this class
America. (dairy products predominating); probiotic milk-based snack bars; seed-based snack bars; nut and dried fruit- based snack bars;
“I was fully prepared to not hear my name, but once they probiotic almond-based snack bars; probiotic dairy-based snack bars; probiotic yogurt-based snack bars; vegetable-based raw food
bars; fruit based snack food; fruit-based snack bars; soya bean-based snack food; soya- based food bars; nut-based snack food;
called my name, it was just tears,” Vaka told the media nut-based food bars; nut-based meal replacement bars; nut-based snack bars; fruit and nut based snack bars; nut and seed-based
afterwards. snack bars; probiotic nut-based snack bars; fruit and nut-based snack bars featuring a chocolate coating; jellies for food; fruit jellies;
“It’s a testament to patience, discipline and hard work. My cream desserts; fortified milk powder; beverage powder milk powder predominating.
whole family was like, this is how it’s supposed to be, kind of
a fairytale ending.” Coffee, tea, cocoa, powders for making flavoured beverages; coffee flavourings and powders; tea flavourings and powders; cocoa
Vaka is excited about the opportunity and the significance flavourings and powders; chocolate beverages; chocolate based beverages; chocolate flavourings and powders; powders for mak-
ing hot drinks made from grains; cereal powder; vegan hot chocolate; vegan coffee-based beverages; non-milk based milk tea; herb-
of representing her Tongan heritage. Her mother is from ‘Uiha al beverages (other than for medicinal use); non-medicated lozenges; frozen yoghurt; frozen yoghurt confections; frozen yoghurt
and Mo’unga’one. Her father is from Mu’a. mixes; frozen-yoghurt-based snack foods; frozen desserts consisting of fruit and cream or cream substitutes; puddings in this class;
“Being the first professional Tongan woman soccer player desserts in this class; ice cream; ices; frozen beverages (edible ices); sorbet; frozen confections; frozen fruit juices; custard; semo-
means the world to me. I never imagined being the first. I lina; sauces and condiments in this class; confectionery including chocolate, candy and liquorice; cereal products in this class; malt
grew up playing because I loved it and I knew I was good at Vaka at practice. Photo: Supplied for human consumption; cakes; biscuits; vegan cookies, biscuits, cakes and pies; pastry; salad dressings; almond cookies; almond
cake; almond confectionery; confectionery enriched with antioxidants; confectionery enriched with vitamins; chewing candy; con-
it. I never thought it would get me this far in life,” she told fectionery with active ingredients for assisting with sports recovery; non-medicated lozenges; vegan frozen confections; vegan ice
Islands Business. cream; processed cereal-based beverages; processed cereals; cereal-based snack foods; cereal bars and high-protein cereal bars;
“Being the first has opened opportunities for other cereal based food bars; cereal based meal replacement bars; ready-to-eat cereal-derived food bars; grain based snack food; rice
Polynesian girls who want to do the same in this sport. I want played four and a half years for the BYU Cougars before being based snack food; quinoa based snack food; wheat based snack food; chocolate-based ready-to- eat food bars; chocolate-based
to help and guide in any way I can,” she added. drafted into the professional ranks of the NWSL. meal replacement bars; snack bars consisting of chocolate; probiotic cereal-based snack bars; porridge; muesli bars; muesli snacks;
She encourages her Pacific peers with these words: “Always Vaka made her international soccer debut when she and her snack foods and snack bars made predominantly from rice, cereal, muesli, corn, seeds, nuts, wheat, flour; energy bars.
be yourself. Find what works for you on the pitch. Don’t try twin sister Daviana played for Mataliki, the Tongan National Non-alcoholic beverages; non-alcoholic carbonated beverages; soft drinks; whey beverages; fruit juices; isotonic beverages; non-al-
to mimic other players. What will help you stick out is what Women’s team, in the 2018 OFC Women’s Nations Cup. coholic ingredients for making beverages; non-alcoholic fruit juice beverages; mineral water; smoothies; waters; cordials; syrups for
makes you different from other players. Work hard, go out According to the Tonga Football Association, the sisters beverages; concentrates, liquid mixtures, syrups, essences, extracts, powders and other preparations for making beverages; con-
and do extra reps on your own, do it because you want to be appeared again for Mataliki in the 2022 OFC Women’s Nations centrates for making fruit beverages; sports drink powder preparations, not for medical purposes; ready to drink beverages, being
the best. It’s possible.” Cup in Suva where Laveni was named the best player of the nutritionally fortified beverages, not for medical purposes; smoothie mixes; ready to mix beverage powders and gels.
Soccer has always been a big part of Vaka’s life. quarter-final match against Papua New Guinea. NEW ZEALAND MILK BRANDS LIMITED cautions that any use of the trade mark or any confusingly similar trade mark in relation
“I love soccer, I started playing when I was six years old. Vaka is Tonga’s second professional soccer player. The to any of these goods or similar goods, would be seen as infringement of their rights and that they will take such action deemed nec-
It has pushed me mentally and physically and has helped me Association said Australian born Ata ‘AJ’ Inia became the first essary to protect those rights.
be the person and player I am today. It’s also helped me gain Tongan pro-footballer in 2020 and is currently playing as a
lifelong friendships.” forward for Thai League 2 club, Phrae United. NEW ZEALAND MILK BRANDS LIMITED can be contacted care of their address for service:
Born in Burlingame, California and raised in Sandy, Utah, AJ Park, Level 22, Aon Centre, 1 Willis Street, Wellington 6011, New Zealand, mail@ajpark.com
Vaka graduated from Brigham Young University in 2023. She - Reported by Alipate Pareti

38 Islands Business, April 2024