The Kirikiti Samoa league kicked off on Tuesday as part of the Teuila festival celebration at the Methodist Compound at Faleula.

The president of the International Kirikiti Samoa Association, Fiu Sio Aloese said the purpose of the tournament was to revive the Samoan kirikiti and continue it as an annual tournament.

"Today, we have three games as the church has some sort of gathering this evening. We will probably end early today and we start again tomorrow at 7 am,” he said.

“So far, the games are going well with 10 men's teams and two women's team.”

"It will continue next week as well, and we hope to wrap up the tournament by Wednesday or Thursday evening. This is an international tournament, unfortunately for this year, there is only one team from overseas which is from Utah, USA.

“We had this tournament last year as well and Saipipi won that. Unfortunately, they cannot defend their title this year because they have other commitments.”

The ten men’s team are Falelauniu, Faleu Manono, Fagafau, Matautu Lefaga, Sili, Gautavai, Gataivai, Pusi Ula from Fagaloa, Aumaga a Tumua from Fagaloa and Utah, U.S.A.

I'a o le Vai from Tanugamanono and Fetuao from Tiavea are two women’s teams.

On Tuesday, the Minister of Sports and Recreational, Laumatiamanu Ringo Purcell said the importance of the tournament and it has been around for more than two decades.

He noted that 1994 was a historic year for the sport in terms of registration. 142 men's teams and 126 women's teams registered.

The Chairman of the Kirikiti Samoa was grateful that the executives and the people of Samoa wanted to continue and revive kirikiti Samoa.

He believes there are a lot of athletes who are playing cricket but it would be great to see that kirikiti Samoa is still around.