Head of State gives blessings

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu 22 June 2017, 12:00AM

“Unity is strength.”

That was the message from the Head of State, His Highness, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, to the Manu Samoa ahead of their match with Wales tonight.

The team visited the Head of State and received his blessings at Tuaefu yesterday.

It was a special moment for the team. His Highness Tui Atua reminded that Samoans always rush to the Manu Samoa when they win. 

But His Highness said he always makes a point of visiting the team when they lose – except for last week when the team lost to the All Blacks.

 “You the oldies; know that has always been my stand. For many years is that when you lose, I want to be there,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter what time you come home, if you had lost I always made it a point to come and wait for you. Because I want to share with you these special moments. When we lose it’s not the tally of points, it’s the spirit that makes you accept this. 

“I want our culture to be a part of the whole emotion and motivation of how to take on rugby as we take on other things.”

Win or lose, the team should celebrate hope.

“When we are defeated we celebrate hope, this is our culture, we celebrate and most importantly when we share God and family. 

“When you have that in your training and in your relations, you can take on rugby, take on winning and take on defeat, as something to spur you to something greater the next time. You always celebrate hope. 

“It’s easy to celebrate hope so long as you believe in family, so long as you believe in God, as long as that is the centerpiece of how you interact. 

“Because the most important thing in any task life is the mind and soul. And how you bring mind and soul into your work and so when you get out there you do your best and you remember to do it for the best possible reasons. 

“You do it for the honor of your country and your family, your village, and all the things which makes us the people that we are.” 

He highlighted the importance of unity.

“If you all go in with one mind and you go in with that sense of commitment to family, who we are and what we are, we will always win in the end because it matters little whether the scores comes right for us. What matters is that you have given your best.” 

 Head Coach Namulauulu Alama Ieremia acknowledged the encouragement from the Head of State. He said the players are ready to do their best for Samoa tonight.

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu 22 June 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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