Godwin Tonna was born in Vittoriosa on the 22nd November, 1955. He is the son of Carmelo and Concetta nee Galea. He is married to Monica Borg and has three children Analisa, Stephen and Kristina.
Godwin started by recounting his childhood years. ‘ I started attending the Sister’s Kinder School in Vittoriosa, followed by five years Primary School at Fortini and Secondary School at St Joseph Technical, Paola.’
But apart from the schooling side, how did Tonna pass his early days. What was he up to? ‘During my time we used to play a lot in the streets. Things were totally different from today. We used to play all kind of games. Football was our main focus but there were other popular games that we used to play like bowls, xixu, harba on the bastions and much more. Though time flies you will never forget those days which even when recounting you will feel nostalgic.’
But how did Godwin show an interest in sport. ‘ As already stated as a kid I used to play football in the streets and to be honest I was quite good. Even Vittoriosa Stars had approached me in order to register with them. But from home I had a stiff opposition especially from my mum. She was afraid that I would get injured. Apart from that I remember how my interest in bocci started. I used to go fishing with my dad at Kalkara and used to pass by the Kalkara Bocci Club which is just off Birgu. Dad used to stop to talk a bit over there and in the meantime I threw a few shots. So that’s how my love for this sport started.’
‘To be honest this game drived me crazy. I got addicted to it and I even got a bit distracted from school.’
Godwin reminds us of his first competition won. ‘ Yes it was in Zabbar when I participated in my first ever competition. The crème de la crème played over there. And we managed to make it to the final and also win the competition. So things were now being put into perspective and I started training more seriously. I used to train on a daily basis. At that time I used to work from 2pm till 10pm so I used to wake up early to train between 6 and 8am.’
But why did Godwin play for Kalkara and not for Birgu? ‘ True I always played for Kalkara. There are various reasons for this. At that time there was no Bocci Club at Birgu. And another thing is that the Kalkara Bocci Club was much nearer from where I live. It was just a three minute walk.’
Talking about success and honours Tonna won everything that this sport had to offer. ‘ I won all individual and even team sport. And at the early stages of my career, I remember great competitions being organized with about 200 teams participating. This was before the Federation was founded. That was the time when a lot of pitches were being built, mid-seventees. Our Kalkara pitch was a dumping area and through my intervention with the authorities a club house was built. Kalkara was one of the first on the island. From than on others followed.’
Godwin stated that these were the best times for this sport on our island. But what’s the reason for lack of interest along the years. ‘After the boom of the late seventees and eightees, this sport started facing some problems. Players started to grow older and some even passed away. Adding to this there was not so much interest from youths. Bocci was considered as an old people’s game.’
And what about the future. ‘I’m going to be blunt now. The interest has waned out. I think that there are about ten good players as I consider the others as amateurs. There is also the match fixing problem which is the achilles tendon of every sport. And Bocci is no exception. So this also plays an important role so that young players don’t have that motivation in playing this traditional game. Even on the international front we had a good crop of players representing our country abroad but lately I haven’t heard anything about them.’
Is there a particular moment which stands out for Godwin? ‘Winning a competition in front of a packed pitch is always a wonderful moment. And during my time the pitches were always full to capacity and sometimes even more so that atmosphere was electrical.’
At a late age Godwin turned his attention to another sport maybe few people are aware of. ‘ It started practically by coincidence. Together with my family we used to go for barbeques, drink and eat and so my belly started forming in a way I didn’t want. So I decided to start walking. It started like that, walking, walking and running , always increasing running and decreasing walking, till I made the set distance running. And I enjoyed it and never looked back. So I decided to participate in my first official race which was the Mdina-Spinola 17k. I was afraid that I wouldn’t make it, but I did it and also clocked a good time. Today I consider myself as one of the best runners of my age bracket. My preferred distance is 10k and the half marathon’
But did Godwin ever participate on a foreign event? ‘ I did the Amsterdam and Valencia half marathon. The experience is unique. And the atmosphere is something indescribable. Out of this world.’
Did the pandemic have a toll on you? ‘ During the pandemic I trained just the same but with no races being organized due to the various restrictions imposed this automatically reduced motivation.’
Godwin turned onto personal tastes starting with his preferred plate. ‘Rabbit is my faviourite food. Especially when it is cooked as stew and with spaghetti to compliment. That is something that I never refuse to eat.’
And what about his favourite destination. ‘ I have been to various places. Lately I have been to Holland which is nice but not a wow. For me Italy and Spain are the best of the crop but everyone has his own opinion.’
Godwin considers running and football as his favourite hobbies. Any particular team he supports. ‘ I am a Juventus fan. A team that though not passing through a good spell but has won all honours that club football offers.’
When Godwin has time on his hands it’s always time for walking, a lot of times with his wife Monica. And what does a normal day for him consist of. ‘ I have been on my pension for the past seven years since I retire at the age of 59. I consider myself lucky since I am now enjoying life more to the full. Normally I wake up at 8, have breakfast, browse through social media platforms, prepare and go for my daily run, shower and we prepare for lunch. In the afternoon maybe I go for a short walk and in the evening normally I stay at home watching TV.’
One final message from Godwin to the sporting public. ‘ In sport you have to be dedicated and committed and also ready to make sacrifices. But sport gives you satisfaction and makes you more disciplined. From my personal experience I can recount how at the beginning of my running career at the end of each run I always wanted to have a cigarette. But now I haven’t been smoking for the past four years. So that’s thanks to sport. But yes training and keeping yourself fit is fundamental for a good wellbeing.’