Falefata is the Pacific Games 2019 Chief

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu 26 February 2018, 12:00AM

The much-anticipated appointment of a 2019 Pacific Games Chief Executive Officer has finally been made.

Cabinet has appointed Falefata Hele Ei Matatia, 34, to the role.

The appointment was confirmed by the Minister of Education, Sports and Culture, Loau Keneti Sio.

“The Cabinet and the Samoa Government has faith in Falefata and his ability to take on the vast responsibilities that comes with being the C.E.O,” he said. 

“He was highly recommended by the panelists and given his vast knowledge in Sports; we opted for some new blood in the Pacific Games arena. 

“Falefata is young, smart, and energetic and given that we have just less than 16 months before the Pacific Games, we know he is the man for the job,” said Loau. 

The position was advertised twice.

“During the first round of interviews there were only three applicants and so the panelists made the nomination.

"However Cabinet felt that there was a need to re-advertise the C.E.O. position given there were not enough applicants for the panelists to choose from.

“We needed more applications so there is a pool of candidates for us to select from. This position is relatively important and we cannot stick to just the first three applicants.

“We had other applicants, but the final decision has to come from Cabinet and Falefata, an avid sportsman, is the man for the job.”  

Falefata is the son of Reverend Pisopa and Petronilla Matatia from the villages of Fusi Safata and Lefagaoali’i, Savai’i. .

Falefata is not new to the arena of Sports. He is the C.E.O. of the Samoa Institute of Sports (S.I.S) launched in December 2016. 

The S.I.S. is a sports development and management company that specialises in supporting the advancement of Samoa’s future sporting stars.  

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu 26 February 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

Upgrade to Premium

Subscribe to
Samoa Observer Online

Enjoy unlimited access to all our articles on any device + free trial to e-Edition. You can cancel anytime.

>