“Pe a uma ona fai o mea uma na poloaiina atu ia te outou, tou te fai ane, O auauna lē aoga i matou i nei, auā o mea e tatau ona matou fai” Luka 17:10
E faapena se lagona o Malisi Sagato Iosefo, Pago Pago, Amerika Samoa, i le agalelei o le Alii, o lea ua tau i le niusina ma tino le faamoemoe sa lupe i manatu ma tapenaga. Viia le Alii!
Ou te faapoipoi lili’a i ou paia Samoa ona o oe o le Ao mamala. Afio lau Afioga I le Kovana Sili ma le Kovana Lutena faapea le lua Kapeneta.
Afio Lau Afioga i le Peresitene o le Senate ma le saofaiga mamalu o Senatoa, Afio Lau Afioga i le Fofoga Fetalai ma Faipule o le Maota o Sui, Lau Afioga I le Faamasino Sili ma le Faamasinoga.
Lau Afioga i le Failautusi o Mataupu Tau Samoa ma le Afioga i le Sui o Amerika Samoa i le Konakeresi. Tulou, mamalu o le Faleagafulu ma le Motusa, mai Malaetele seia paia si’ufanua o le Alataua. Tulou le tapuaiga a Tumua ma Puleono, Aiga i le Tai ma le Va’a o Fonoti, e tausi va’a tele i Tama ma Aiga, o Aiga ma Tama.
As Chairman of the 4th Vailima Marist Pago Flag Day International Sevens and on behalf of our sports club, I convey our heartiest greetings to all teams participating and vying for the Governor Lemanu’s Cup 2023. It will be an exciting event as we celebrate our National Flag Day and also develop the game of rugby in our islands beyond Covid-19. Welcome to our friendly shores.
I acknowledge with sincere appreciation the leading support of Governor, Hon. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga, Lt. Governor Hon Talauega Eleasalo Vaalele Ale and its administration towards our efforts to host this important event for our youth and community.
Marist continues to be thankful for the pioneer contributions of former Governor Togiola Faoa administration that facilitated the inaugural Marist Sevens. The Hon. Governor Lolo-Lemanu administration followed suit with the same support which left an immense impact with American Samoa participating in the Gold Coast Sevens 2014 and the regions Oceania Sevens.
As we rebuild after the devastating global pandemic, Marist St. Joseph’s Pago aspires to rekindle the same opportunities for our youth and officials by hosting the sevens tournament. We aim to support the year-round activities of the President and American Samoa Rugby Union in developing rugby in local schools, clubs and villages. It may not be a perfect restart but to do nothing will be more detrimental than the lessons learned on the way forward.
Marist will continue to host tournaments to develop the local talent and provide the international exposure needed for our players in preparation for regional competition. The long-term goal is to regain a place for our national team, Talavalu in the Rugby Sevens World Series.
With the challenges of soaring costs worldwide, we are grateful for the support of our sponsors and partners in allowing the much needed financial assistance to fund our operations in hosting the sevens tournament. Our partnership from the rugby field to community engagement will certainly uplift spirits, discover the hidden x-factor talent on island and boost the local economy from sports tourism. Marist Pago is sincerely thankful for your invaluable support.
I also take this opportunity to acknowledge the service of past and present, players and management for Marist and ASRU, that have in many ways behind the scene served ad supported our developments. E le galo lo outou sao taua ma le tautua ia Malisi ma le Lakapi a Amerika Samoa.
My best wishes for all our teams and especially our top four for American Samoa. To our visiting teams from overseas, I hope you will also find time to experience our beautiful island, Amerika Samoa.
Soifua ma ia manuia!
Taupaū Tauileave Toluono
