Pili O’ua Sydney wins league designed to revive kilikiti

By Deidre Fanene 08 January 2017, 12:00AM

Pili O’ua from Sydney Australia has claimed the top honours at the three-day Kilikiti tournament at Matautu Falealili.

The Samoans based in Australians proved far too classy for teams from Falealili who vied for the top prize. 

Pinofoaga Ieremia said the tournament was hugely successful, despite this year’s event being their first.

“We decided that it would be good to have the tournament during this time of the year because everyone will be on holiday,” he said.

 “We had two teams from here in Matautu Falealili, one team from Vaovai, one team from Salesatele and then one from Sydney Australia.”

The tournament is part of efforts to revive kilikiti in Samoa.

 “As we all know that the English cricket has now been played here in Samoa but the Samoa kilikiti this is where we get our muāgagana (old adage) from but we have forgotten that,” he said.

 “The Samoa kilikiti is one of our measina (treasure) but we have decided to bring in the English cricket which is not a bad thing as there are people who are good players of the English cricket but the Samoa kilikiti is something we were born with. We must never forget it.”

“So the whole idea behind this is to revive the Samoa kilikiti. We need to teach our children how to play the sport and have fun and that’s the whole purpose of this tournament.”

Pinofoaga said the tournament will become an annual event.

President of the Pili O’ua from Sydney, Nai Saifoloi, said they are delighted to return home victorious.

 “It was a tough tournament but unfortunately there is only one winner,” he said.

“I am so proud of my team and it’s was a good week for us because we got to meet the other teams and do everything together and get to know them.”

“We are looking forward to what this year will bring and hopefully there will be more teams that will participate in this year’s tournament.”

The winners received a cash prize of $2,000 and the trophy, second place received $1,000, third place $600, fourth place $500 and fifth place $400.

 

RESULTS:

1- Pili O’ua Sydney Australai - $2,000

2- Malae o le Talu Salesatele - $1,000

3- Pili O’ua A Matautu Falealili - $600

4- Papa o Sina Vaovai - $500

Pili O’ua B Matautu Falealili - $400

By Deidre Fanene 08 January 2017, 12:00AM

Trending Stories

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.

>