The American Samoa High School Athletic Association (ASHSAA) had a board meeting a few days after this year’s championship game, to discuss matters on the violence that Tafuna High School students and supporters cause every year they make it to the big games.

This year, THS students and supporters wrecked the championship celebration for the Vikings with no awards ceremony — that usually takes place immediately after the game — and they stoned the champ’s homecoming motorcade in front of the Sports Complex in Tafuna, while the Vikings were trying to make their way back home to Fagaitua (Eastside) with the Championship trophy.

In response, the Department of Education is putting its foot down and making the call – whether their judgment might actually affect Warrior Football supporters, is up in the air — but many agree it sets the bar of what punishment will happen if rules and good sportsmanship are not followed in high school sports. The consequence is an example for all other schools that choose to bring violence and unsportsmanlike behavior to the games in the future.

CONSEQUENCES

As a result of the ASHSAA board meeting, the Department of Education- Sports Division has banned the Tafuna High School football team from all playoff games for the the 2017- 18 school year — they will not be able to compete in a championship game.

Samoa News spoke to the DOE’s Sports Director, Li’amatua Amisone about the issue, who pointed that this isn’t the first time this has happened.

He said, “Be informed that Tafuna High School was banned from participating in ASHSAA Sports twice before for stoning/ damaging the school buses during Mr. Vele's principalship.”

Amisone continued, “And a few years ago, ASHSAA again banned Tafuna High School from participating in the ASHSAA Football Program & other sports as well for the same reason.”

He told Samoa News that he was ready to ban Tafuna High School completely from participating in the upcoming football league, but he made a lenient decision with his heart aching for those student-athletes that will miss out on highlight opps for college football scholarship opportunities.

Amisone said, “However, after further discussion, a lenient decision was reached. As a result, the Warriors were granted a chance to participate in a regular season for all sports but exempt from a Playoffs – this gives a chance, especially in football, so that Tafuna High School football players can have an opportunity to be filmed for profile/ scout purposes.”

He added, “ASHSAA made a similar decision about a year ago to ban the Leone High School boys soccer team from participating in the ASHSAA Soccer tournament resulting from LHS students’ uncontrolled and unruly behavior displayed on the soccer field at the end of the Soccer Championship Game.”

ASHSAA President Tupa’i Rod Atafua told Samoa News a letter was sent to Tafuna High School’s Principal regarding the penalties against Tafuna as a result of the violence and unsportsmanlike behavior surrounding the football championship game this year. He sent Samoa News a copy of the letter.

In the letter, Atafua writes, “Two reports were presented in the meeting – [one of an] incident involving a football player from Tafuna, (player will not be named to protect his identity) … not only unsportsmanlike [behavior] but also aided the uproar of the other players and Tafuna students that marched across the football field … Faga’itua’s sideline.”

He continued, “As a result, the player was ejected and fined $50.00 – in addition Tafuna High School was penalized $100.00 for not being able to control their sideline as stated above.”

The second report addressed the stoning of the school bus and private vehicles, which transported Faga’itua football players and supporters back to the east side after the championship game – Atafua said, “Fortunately no one was injured, nevertheless, Assistant Director Vanu Moe was not pleased with the damages to the school bus – as a result of the stoning.”

 For the on-field behavior of the football team, Tafuna High School has been penalized as followed, Atafua wrote:

(1) Tafuna High School’s Junior Varsity Football team will be allowed to compete in the 2017 fall season – BUT will not have the privilege of winning a championship title.

(2) The Tafuna High School’s Varsity Football Team will be allowed to compete in the 2017 fall season – BUT will not have the privilege of participating in the play-offs.

BACKGROUND

In past years ASHSAA would cancel all remaining sporting events of the academic year – depriving student-athletes of athletic scholarship opportunities, in sports such as in softball, baseball, volleyball and basketball.

For example, a couple of years back, Tafuna threw rocks at the Vikings championship motorcade at the stop sign in front of the PX Store on the airport road – while heading back home with the football trophy.

In retaliation, a couple of weeks later, Faga’itua made it rain rocks from their high school in Fagaitua to the canneries in Atu’u, when Tafuna’s school bus was returning to the Westside after a volleyball match at the home of the Vikings.

This incident cancelled all remaining ASHSAA Sports for the rest of that school year; and with the cancellation came missed scholarship opportunities. Something many parents and student-athletes believed was unfair, punishing those who had nothing to do with the unsportsmanlike behavior.

Other incidents in past years have also occurred during basketball season— with violence from Tafuna High School students and spectators happening at the school’s gym and parking lot, which is right next to the Tafuna Police Substation. Again, ASHSAA responded with cancellation of the rest of its season.