The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame's founder and co-founder and board members are currently in Samoa to recruit boys from a certain age bracket to pursue opportunities in American football.

The opportunity to play American football is much greater as it is also tied to education pathways – whereas if a player doesn't reach the professional level – their education which is compulsory for the gridiron can become the second door to enable them to achieve something.

In a press conference on Monday, former National Football League (NFL) player and founder of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, Seiuli Jesse Sapolu said that the opportunity comes with a backup plan if the boy fails to go onto the gridiron professionally

" We played American football which they called the Gridiron," Seiuli said. "We're here to look for kids that have the potential to play American football and we've also met with the Honourable Prime Minister to explain why we're here and the different ways we're planning to help out with the children of Samoa.

"American football has a connection with education. You can't skip the university level of education and play professionally and those are some of the benefits or blessings we're hoping to bless our children of Samoa with.

"Education is the way to American football and for the university level, the recruits have to be 18 years old and will be on scholarships for four to five years.

"If they succeed to the professional level, then they can pursue American Football and if not, they can return with their master's degrees from whichever university they enrolled in and use them in Samoa."

Samoan boys who can be eligible for this opportunity are between the ages of 14–18 and show their potential during the screening process.

The team is currently working with Lakapi Samoa and the Manu Samoa Sevens Coach, Muliagatele Brian Lima in selecting suitable teenage boys who meet the criteria. 

They were also in Samoa prior to the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020 which led to the closure of Samoa's international borders. They were able to recruit two Samoan teenagers and one has returned to Samoa. 

Seiuli is in Samoa with Maa Tanuvasa (co-founder of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame), board member of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, Tongan Reno Mahe, and professional American football player Galuega Tagavailoa, whose son Tua Tagavailoa also plays the sport.

Ma'a on the other hand recalled the success of their previous visit and emphasised the significance of introducing these opportunities to the children of Samoa.

"When we had those camps at Saint Joseph's College, we had about 50 kids that turned up because in Apia it's dominated by rugby so kids were curious of what gridiron is and they probably have seen it on television," he said. "But to be able to get up close to those that have played American football professionally is something different for these kids.

"When Covid-19 hit, we were in a process to kind of build it up because for Pago, there's no secret there and college coaches are coming to Pago so we put out kids there but we want to make Apia the next destination for those college coaches to come to because the population is much bigger than Pago."

The Polynesian Hall of Fame was established in 2013 by Seiuli Jesse Sapolu and Maa Tanuvasa.