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OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR – AMERICAN SAMOA
PRESS RELEASE
(for immediate release – Tuesday, December 29, 2009)
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Gov. Togiola hosts Samoa Bowl VII participants; “Building honorable qualities”

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(UTULEI) – Governor Togiola Tulafono and First Lady Mary Ann Tulafono tonight hosted a welcome reception for the 175 Samoa Bowl VII players from Hawaii, Australia and American Samoa at Governor H. Rex Lee Auditorium (Fale Laumei) in Utulei.

The official sports dinner to honor the participants and kick-off the festivities of the 7th annual event, which “promote sports, character, education, camaraderie, and your cultural heritage,” included coaches of all four teams, sponsors, community members and the eight-member girls Hawaii Volleyball All Stars as well as the eleven-member girls American Samoa Volleyball All Stars.

In his welcome remarks, Governor Togiola extended happy greetings to the special guests from Hawaii, which includes players from the U.S. Mainland, and to new participants this year, the Australia All Stars, made up of players from the nine states and territories of the Land Down Under.

“We are proud and honored to have you in American Samoa and we say Talofa to you all and thank you for your participation,” said Governor Togiola. “This is our seventh year now and Samoa Bowl, without a doubt, has become a foremost event and it is now a tradition for us to kick-off the New Year. Samoa Bowl encourages competition and you then advance it through building honorable qualities, which result in knowledge, good judgment, good fellowship and brotherhood, and the fine attributes that make us who we are today. Those are the benefits sports can bring to a nation, a territory, an island community, and to your young lives.”

Governor Togiola gave a special welcome to head coaches Siuaki Livai of Hawai’i, Peter Tos of Australia, and Pepine Lauvao of American Samoa’s two teams in Samoa Bowl, and their respective coaching staff. The Governor also expressed his thanks to the head coaches of the Volleyball All Stars, Tanya Fuamatu-Anderson of Hawai’i, and Tumua Matu’u of American Samoa.

In acknowledging the Samoa Bowl Committee chairs Lealao Melila Purcell and Peter Gurr, Governor Togiola expressed his sincere gratitude to the committee and all the members, as well as the members of the island community, and people and businesses in Hawai’i and American Samoa who are proud sponsors, for always rising to the occasion to make Samoa Bowl an annual reality.

“I want to thank you, the Samoa Bowl Committee, for the year-round hard work in organizing this year’s game, and I applaud all of you for making the commitment to provide opportunities for our youth and in making this event possible,” said Governor Togiola.

Governor Togiola acknowledged the kind assistance and generous support of Nike, as represented by Sports Marketing Manager Mr. Forrest Sherman.

“As we all know, our resources are limited for sports, so I wish to offer special thanks to Nike and the wonderful donation to Samoa Bowl and for our young people,’ said Governor Togiola. “The equipment Nike has donated will ensure our players are safe and they can continue to develop their skills and participate in sports.”

Governor Togiola told the players to enjoy the local fellowship and have fun throughout Samoa Bowl Week.

“I know you will make friends with each other and you will have a great time on our small rock,’ said Governor Togiola. “It is the same rock that has produced outstanding collegiate and National Football League players. Who knows? Perhaps many of you here tonight will end up in the NFL. That’s the idea. I wish you all the best of luck. You are all winners because of the decision you have made to use sports to pursue your goals. Good luck.”

All Samoa Bowl Week participants were announced and presented with a Samoa Bowl VII competition medal and an American Samoa Quarter (commemorative 25 cent coin) from Governor Togiola and Lieutenant Governor Faoa Aitofele Sunia.

Samoa Bowl VII will kick off this Friday, New Year’s Day, January 1, 2010 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Tafuna with American Samoa versus Hawaii. On Saturday, January 2nd, American Samoa will go against Australia. An exhibition game of the American Youth Football Samoa League (11 to 13 year old) will be played before each game on both days; Tafuna Chargers vs Leone Raiders and Fagaima Steelers vs Alataua Saints.

The Samoa Bowl Week volleyball championship will be played this Thursday, New Year’s Eve, at the American Samoa Community College gymnasium in Mapusaga.

---americansamoa.gov---