World Footy News

One of the clear disappointments in the vibrant Pacific region for Australian Football was the non-appearance of Samoa at both the 2011 International Cup and the recent Youth Tournament in Fiji.

Here is an update on AFL Samoa. AFL Samoa has a newly re-formed and restructured board and committee. Across three days in late November they were pleased to host a visit from AFL Asia Pacific Manager of Football Operations, Andrew Cadzow. Andrew was in Samoa to among other things to convene the first ever AFL Samoa Coaching and Umpiring AFL Level 1 Accreditation workshop. Outside of that, Andrew also took time to run some skills clinics.

The workshop ran over a full day, and with over 25 attendees turning up, learning more about the game, how train and coach it and also importantly how to umpire it.  The attendees were from rural based schools that offer AFL in the school sports programs.

AFL Samoa Development officer Gabel Stathis said “The biggest thing lacking in Samoa at the moment is a shortage of Umpires and Coaches.  With this course completed we now have accredited level 1 AFL teachers in schools who can now umpire games at tournaments.”

There are plans for the next refresher course to occur early next year (2012).

AFL Samoa also indicated that despite not fielding a side in this year’s AFL Youth Oceania Cup, that with “..all the recent enthusiasm around the game in Samoa we expect to field a very competitive team next year. “

AFL Samoa Board/Committee

The new board established earlier this year, and the Committee includes Mitty Edwards, who is familiar to many WFN readers, and is the mother of North Melbourne’s Aaron Edwards.

Local Sponsor

In other local news, it’s good to see a local sponsorship with Motor1 which sees one of Samoa’s most respected vehicle sales company’s supplying transport for AFL Samoa for the next 5 months.  This will allow AFL Development Manager Gabel Stathis to more easily get to some of the more remote rural areas without having to rely on the bus. 

Scholarships

Meanwhile, AFL Samoa’s Gabel Stathis attended the Faleata College’s 2011 Prize Giving Ceremony to present two AFL Samoa donated scholarships, one each for a male and female student.  Stathis stated “It is a great opportunity for the students, giving them an incentive to play the game but also to reward the students for the great efforts they have made in excelling in their studies.  A good education is very important as it will serve you well in your chosen career.  Sport and Education are a good fit for each other.”

New Schools introduced to AFL

In October Stathis travelled to the other side of the island and introduced three new schools to Aussie Rules.  Falealili School, Palalaua College and Aana #2, at the time joining Lepa/Lotofaga, Faleata College and Aleipata College in the AFL Samoa Schools Program in giving more students in Upolu a chance to play Australian football.  AFL Samoa reported 340 players registered in the AFL Samoa database, putting participation in the AFL Samoa program at an all time high.  All in all 10 schools, with 4 from Savaii Island joining the 6 from Upolu Island.

AFL Development Officer

Gabel Stathis was introduced via the AFL Samoa October newsletter.  He has been appointed as the new AFL Development Officer under the AYAD (Australian Youth Ambassador Development program). 

Born in Adelaide, he moved to QLD in 1998, and after completing a Diploma of Fitness at TAFE, he studied at Griffith University majoring in Sports Management. 

He is posted to Samoa until June 2012.

The 23 year old is soaking up the Samoan lifestyle, and hoping that Garry Ablett can help push the Gold Coast Suns up the ladder in 2012.  However, the weekend just gone has brought to an end a massive couple of months in the lead up to Christmas with school visits and/or school matches every day of the week other than Sundays through September and the first week of December.   The school visits kicked off in August with Faleata College the first school.  Clinics were run for the last two weeks of August, and the students PE classes were transformed into Aussie Rules skills sessions.  Under 16 students had the opportunity to participate in after school clinics.  After school holidays in the first half of September, Stathis was on the road again through to now.

An obvious highlight was that Faleata College made it’s annual sports carnival a little different when held on September 2^nd.  To mark the schools introduction to Australian Football – the school, along with AFL Samoa, based the sports day around Australian Football.  The houses of the school competed against each other in different skills based activities, such that hand balling and drop punts were well practised.  Houses then competed in modified matches again for house points. 

Summary

What is clear is that Samoa was very much in need of an AYAD appointment and is looking to regain momentum.  The penetration into schools is fabulous and very encouraging.  That Samoa intends to again present to the AFL Youth Oceania Cup in 2012 will hopefully make a public statement that AFL Samoa is back with a vengeance and heading in the right direction.  Obviously a lot of water to go under the bridge over the next 12 months, considering it’s the wet season currently – so, perhaps not just figuratively.  At any rate – good luck to AFL Samoa.

Andrew Cadzow told WFN that “ The AFL is looking forward to the re-emergence in the Pacific of Samoa AFL.

The many teachers and players I saw  and coached showed that the grassroots work done over the years is still there and needs nurturing.”

AFL Samoa can be followed on Facebook, and Gabel Stathis is contactable via email g.stathis@mesc.gov.ws.