The idyllic setting of Pago Pago Harbour provided a glorious backdrop as American Samoa’s football family celebrated the inauguration of it’s FIFA Goal project at Pago Park.
OFC President Reynald Temarii was brimming with optimism.
“Think about what we will produce here. If we work together…sports and especially football could be a tool of education…with women leading this organisation,” Temarii said.
Temarii commended the work of the Football Federation of American Samoa (FFAS) Normalisation Committee Chairperson Pou Supapo as an example of a “feminine future” for football.
“There are 208 national associations within the FIFA football family and only two of them are headed by women. One is in Africa and the other is here, in Oceania – American Samoa,” Temarii
said.
Governor Togiola emphasised the significance of the facility in developing the children of the territory.
“It’s about the children,” he said,”developing football and it’s programme for our children.”
Togiola thanked the numerous people who made the project a reality in the face of “serious challenges”.
Project Manager Ray Vuksich was in attendance to witness another successful conclusion to a Vuksich and Borich project under the FIFA Goal programme.
First Lady Maryann Tulafono cut the ribbon to open the headquarters and Reynald Temarii cut the ribbon to open the playing field.
The playing field will host eleven-a-side tournaments for girls and boys aged 12-17 with Pou Supapo paying tribute to all local football club presidents who pulled together to help make Pago Park’s
dream a reality.
“This field has long been dreamed of for American Samoa football..it is not just for American Samoa football…not just for Pago…or ASFA. This is for all the youth of American Samoa and Manu’a,”
Supapo said.
Governor Togiola scored the biggest cheer of the day when he tucked away a clinical penalty past FIFA Amabassador Christian Karembeu whose charitable and modest goalkeeping skills matched the
spirit of the day.