Netball in Samoa has been given a boost with local companies Business Systems Limited (BSL) and BlueSky Samoa announcing a $10,000 tala funding support for the Champ of Champs netball tournament.

BSL has supported netball over the last three consecutive years with BlueSky coming on board this year to support and develop the sport in partnership with Netball Samoa. 

Samoa School Principals Association (SSPA) executive and Leififi College principal, Malaea Lauano, said their objective is to promote netball to young Samoan girls and train and nurture them to gradually participate in regional and international tournaments. 

“The goal is to push the young ladies of Samoa to develop netball into the next level, to make it to international tournaments and the Pacific," she said. 

The presentation of the funding support was done at the BSL main retail outlet at Taufusi in the presence of SSPA executives and the Samoa Netball Association president Rosemarie Esera. 

Mrs. Esera said the Champ of Champs tournament is good exposure for the female netball players and gives them the opportunity to show their talent. 

“So this netball Champ of Champs is an excellent opportunity for the association to see what our emerging talents we have in Samoa. This Champs of Champs is the platform for our emerging young players in netball of Samoa," she said. 

The Champ of Champs tournament kicks off Thursday at the Pesega College in Apia.

Mrs. Lauano said their long-term vision is to continue the development of netball into the future for the next generation. 

“We also encourage the presence of the parents and our country to come and support our young developing netball females, to give them a positive feeling while they hunt for their dreams. 

“We know that rugby is being mostly acknowledged these days by our people. But netball, we’re trying to develop it in our country with the goal to teach the girls from a younger age until they grow older and better,” she said. 

The Netball World Youth Cup is scheduled to be held in Fiji in 2021, which Mrs. Esera said opened the door for Samoa's participation. 

“Last time we entered Samoa and we went to Botswana in South Africa and we had one of our players from Samoa College as part of the team,” she added. 

The Samoa Under 21 trials will be open to all Samoa girls and players, including those who live abroad. 

Acknowledging the support of the local companies BSL and BlueSkey as welll as Eveni Carruthers and the SSPA for the support to netball in Samoa. 

“We are as not as fortunate as rugby to have many tournaments, but if we concentrate and put all our efforts into this, it will be a star. 

In a parting message to aspiring young netball players, Mrs. Esera said: “Prioritise drinking water as they develop their netball skills."