The Department of Education’s athletic division (ASHSAA) officially kicked off their 44^th annual football season in the territory – a solid sports program that has the minds and hearts of the dedicated local athletes in American Samoa who are striving for a better future.

With football now playing a huge role in the lives of our Samoan youth, they are looking up to Samoan NFL icons like Jesse Sapolu, Jr. Seau, Mosi Tatupu, and Troy Polamalu, just a few popular islanders who played in the National Football League. These Samoan football icons influence  our young boys today.

Some of the local island bred football players who started playing here under the ASHSAA Football program include NFL players like Aitui Isa’ako and Joey Iosefa of Faga’itua, Matt Toea’ina, Isaac Sopo’aga and Domata Peko of Samoana, Jonathan Fanene and Jr. Siavi’i of Tafuna, Paul Soli’ai of Nu’uuli Voc-Tech just to name a few.

The program has grown to be one of the most followed events in the territory and  now one of the highlights of the year for Samoans living in the territory – there’s even media releases from the United States that Samoans are taking over the NFL. And after the 60 minute crew that came down to document football in American Samoa back in 2009 - Tutuila is recognized as “Football Island.”

Opening the 44^th football season in the territory, the Director of the Department of Educations, Dr. Vaitinasa Salu Hunkin Finau said, “First of all, I would like to thank the president of ASHSAA for the coordination and planning of this year’s season.”

She added, “Let’s play the game already – but before that, I would like to thank our government in supporting us by adding a budget for our DOE Sports Program which should help us make bigger improvements and advancements in our sporting programs.”

Dr. Finau’s message to the players was in particular addressed to their sportsmanship and ethics. “Just a few thoughts for you to ponder on before we kick off the season – there’s a Samoan saying that say’s “ta’alo fa’atamali’i”. If you’re out there on that field, keep that in mind, play hard, play smart, and never ever forget to always keep a class act attitude and to uphold good sportsmanship between each other... But enough said already, let’s get it on."

Honoring the opening of the 44^th ASHSAA Football Season in the territory and officially opening up this year’s competition by throwing the first pass of the season, was Lt. Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga, who made an impact on the hearts of the players during his special remarks.

“The key to winning is not, and I say it is not by breaking your opponent’s leg, or breaking your opponents arm, or intentionally tackling him so that he’ll end up at the LBJ Hospital,” stated Mauga.

Lt. Governor Mauga added, “The key to winning is to challenge yourself – you the individual versus yourself.”

During his remarks Lt. Gov Mauga stated, “There’s no future in winning plays, making hard catches, and winning football games – if you’re losing in the classrooms.” He added, “My message to you is to play the ball, and put your personal feelings side. Don’t get personal if you get beat on a play. Your opponents aren’t anybody else, they are your brothers. You might start a fight against an opponent, only to find out at the end that you’re related to each other.”

 Lt. Governor Mauga also reached out to the fans and spectators during his remarks and said “to all of you who are watching the game, supporting your teams and players – have some class. A majority of the times the trouble doesn’t start from the athletes and teams, but erupts from you the fans and spectators.”

He concluded, “These children are not only yours alone, but these are all of our children, so let us adults be the example for them, and let us parents be the leaders to keep the peace and continue to impact good sportsmanship."