The man in charge of the Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (SA.S.N.O.C), Fa’amausili Taiva Ah Young, has resigned.

Fa’amausili’s resignation after three years at the helm was confirmed in a letter he wrote to S.A.S.NO.C obtained by the Samoa Observer.  

According to Fa’amausili, who is also the President of the Samoa Hockey Association, his contract officially ended in February but he was asked to stay and help out with S.A.S.N.O.C’s Annual General Meeting last month where Fepulea’i Patrick Fepulea’i was re-elected President.   

“In the last three years I have enjoyed working with all of you with the support you have given and I sincerely hope that I have contributed something to the development of sports in Samoa,” Fa’amausili wrote.

But he said his decision to resign was driven by a desire to help the youth of Samoa.

 “I have also travelled extensively in Savai’i and Upolu and I have seen the need for youth, especially those who are early school leavers and unemployed, which was why when the Community Revival Outreach Programme Trust (C.R.O.P Samoa) was established, I was offered the C.E.O position. 

“I took it without any hesitation as I know the good Lord wants to help those in need.”

Fa’amausili has already started his new role with C.R.O.P.

In the meantime, he wishes S.A.S.N.O.C and sports in Samoa all the best.

“I wish all of you especially the new Executive and Board the very best and I know we will continue to meet as I am still involved in sports through hockey but C.R.O.P. also has a training component to help the youth, women and the unemployed in Samoa where I hope O.S.E.P. will assist.

“Regards and may God bless you.”

Fa’amausili last year returned from Switzerland after receiving his Master’s degree.  He participated in the two-year Master’s degree programme for the Executive Management of Sports (M.E.M.O.S.) at the Université de Louvain, Switzerland.  

The initiative was funded by the International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.).

Fa’amausili’s research was a resource-based analysis, posing a question that Samoan leaders, athletes, sports administrators and the Samoan community have been asking since Samoa first participated in international competitions 53 years ago. 

 “Can Samoa attain competitive advantage in elite sports? How can it be achieved and how can Samoa sustain it?”

Married to Melinda Brown-Ah Young, Faamausili is a father of five who hails from the village of Malie.