Aiolupotea-Pei on Canadian mission
Suns honour champions
QUEENSLANDER Misiona Aiolupotea-Pei has missed out on becoming the first Gold Coaster selected in the NFL Draft but the former Gold Coast Stingrays prodigy isn’t giving up on his dream of a professional football career.
The Washington State University defensive lineman and Keebra State High graduate has set his sights on playing in the Canadian Football League instead.
Three CFL teams – the Calgary Stampede, British Columbia Lions and Saskatchewan Rough Riders – have already expressed interest in drafting the 191cm, 122kg defender, who hopes to be selected in the first round.
Joining the CFL would be another twist in a unique sporting journey from his birthplace in Wellington New Zealand to the Gold Coast to colleges in California and Washington State.
“It’s been amazing, a blessing, because this was my dream to come over to America and play big-time football,” Aiolupotea-Pei said.
“It’s been gruelling, with gym, classes, training, meetings and study, but you step back and look at the amazing opportunity and you’re so grateful.
“I’ve got to finish up the academic aspect of things and then I’ll head back to my family home in NZ and when the virus dies down the CFL will fly me out to Canada for the draft.
“It’s definitely a great opportunity to go and compete and get paid to do something you love doing.”
The odds are stacked against the gridiron star suiting up for the Stingrays again, but his passion for the game could see Aiolupotea-Pei return one day in a coaching capacity.
“I’ll always have love for the Stingrays, and maybe one day after I’m done playing I’ll come back and teach,” he said.
“We have the athletic ability (in Queensland), it’s the technical side we have to get down pat.
“Once we more guys in
CFL.” do you’ll see the NFL and
IT’S the Suns’ night of nights, albeit it will look a little different than usual.
Tonight the Gold Coast Suns are set to host the first ever AFLW Club Champion event after their season came to an end in March following a historic first finals appearance for the club.
Due to social-distancing restrictions, the Suns will be hosting the event over Zoom with players to attend from their homes.
The AFLW players will still dress up for the occasion to celebrate what was a momentous debut season for the club.
Seven awards will be presented at the event, including the inaugural AFLW Club Champion award, which was voted on by the coaching panel after each game.
The Club Champion Runner-Up, Players’ Player, Player of the Finals, Coach’s Award, Most Professional Player and Members’ AFLW Player of the Year will also be presented.
Eliza Reilly