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More certified coaches, means more medals for American Samoa

Tahiti National Olympic Committee (TNOC) Chef de Mission told Samoa News before he jumped on the plane last Monday night that the only way American Samoa can win “more medals” when competing in any future international competition around the Pacific including the Pacific Games and Oceania Championship, is “to have more certified coaches for all sports federations on island, who can train local athletes to become more skillful and be ready to compete in the international level.

 

Hironui Bouit said, “Why I am saying this is because ever since we have had a full team of certified coaches, trainers and referees for all the sports federations back home, our results from all international sports competitions we’ve competed in are going up to the top, winning more medals during Pacific and mini games back for the last 20 years. So in order for American Samoa to be on the top of the medal tally list for every international sports competition around the Pacific, they need to have a full team of certified coaches, trainers and referees on island to train their athletes.”

 

Not looking down on the hard work that some of the local coaches and trainers have achieved for American Samoa, Bouit believes that the work is needed for “only the sports from which American Samoa has never won a single medal.

 

“Tahiti is always in the top four of the medal tally table in every Pacific and mini games that we’re been part of, for example during the XV Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea last year, we came third out of 24 pacific countries that were competing, winning a total of 113 medals including 39 gold medals. And during the XIV Pacific Games in New Caledonia in 2011, we came second out of 22 Pacific countries that were competing, winning 109 medals including 43 gold medals. So you can tell from our results that we’ve been moving forward in terms of developing each sport for our country, and we can offer our help by conducting training for all local sports federations who need our help,” he said.

 

Pacific Games Council records also shows that Tahiti came second out of 20 Pacific countries that competed at the 2013 Mini Games in Wallis and Futuna, winning 40 medals with 26 gold medals.

 

Department of Youth & Women’s Affairs Director Jonathan Fanene told Samoa News that he agrees with Bouit’s comments and they are now working together to make his offer a reality.

 

When asked by Samoa News about why the Tahitian NOC is willing to offer its help to American Samoa this time, and what they’re looking at for a reward, Bouit with a smile on his face said, “American Samoa has helped us since last year when your certified coach and trainer Ethan Lake came over to Tahiti and helped us with developing American Football for our youth and as you know, more than 3,000 athletes turned up to be part of the one week camp. It’s amazing to see a lot of new, young football players in our country at this time, and I know that if we can host the XVII Pacific Games in 2023, our football team will be one of the best to best,” said Bouit.

 

In conclusion,the Tahiti Chef de Mission noted, “I know every youth person wants to feel like they belong to something and if they don’t play football, that’s okay, let them play other sports. Maybe they can be the best paddler, best boxer, best volleyball player or the best wrestler, that’s why it’s really good to have more certified coaches on island to start teaching all sports in American Samoa.”

 

American Samoa won 8 medals including 3 gold medals when competing in 9 sports out of 28 sports that were offered at the XV Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea 2015, and these sports include volleyball (indoors); beach volleyball; boxing; weightlifting; softball; tennis; basketball; golf and bodybuilding.

 

Samoa News should also point out that one of the biggest problems American Samoa sports teams have is funding — to not only train athletes, but also pay travel & accommodation expenses for them to compete off-island in international events.