Building up Team Samoa

By Anina Kazaz 20 July 2018, 12:00AM

Samoa’s preparations for the Pacific Games next year are well underway. At the Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (S.A.S.N.O.C.) Office on Wednesday, a Road to Gold workshop was conducted.

The training was to brief coaches, managers and representatives on the importance of working as a unified team. 

The workshop also looked at strategies to win medals with the available resources and budget. 

S.A.S.N.O.C. Chief Executive Officer, Tuala Matthew Vaea, said the workshop is important for Team Samoa, not just S.A.S.N.O.C.

 “If you don’t start building a team together now, you will be thrown down the line,” he said. 

“This is partly why we are starting with S.A.S.N.O.C to make sure that this team gels as one, that we share the same values not what each division thinks, but team Samoa as one.” 

Team Samoa Chef de Mission, Nynette Sass, agrees.

“We want a team that is prepared, with a very professional approach and this is something we can give back to our people. For me, challenges are opportunities to improve and that is what we are doing.”

Ms. Sass highlighted one of the challenges is the size of the team.

She added there is also the pressure for the sporting teams to perform well and win the Games next year, especially with the competition being held in Samoa.

“At the end of the day, we have to look at the fact that our country is investing heavily to have these games here,” Ms. Sass said.

Tuala added the ultimate goal is winning Gold medals.

Aside from that, the Pacific Games is a stepping stone towards preparations for other international tournaments such as the Commonwealth Games. 

The next workshop is Safeguarding Toolkit, which will be delivered by Samoa Medical and Anti-Doping Agency (S.M.A.D.A) and the Team Samoa Management focusing on building policies and guidelines.

By Anina Kazaz 20 July 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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