Laolasi wants to become the next Kahn Fotuali’i

By Ilia L. Likou 29 July 2017, 12:00AM

The most important thing in life is love and family.

At sixteen years age, Laloasi Ponifasio, is a young man with the right priorities. 

He spoke with the Village Voice while he was waiting for his father who had gone out fishing at Lauli’i.

Laloasi is the eldest of three siblings. He has many dreams. One of them is to represent Samoa in the Manu Samoa team.

“I want to become another Kahn Fotuali’i,” he said, “I mean I just love his skills and the way he plays and I feel I can do that too.”

But that dream has to wait for now.

His father doesn’t have other work and his mother stays in American Samoa. 

“My mother supports us financially sometimes when we need money,” he told the Village Voice.

 “We depend mostly on our plantation and the sea, and those are the two main sources that help my family survive from day to day.”

Laloasi left school last year when he was in Year 10.

“I left school, because of financial problems in my family, but I still want to go to school when I can,” he said.

“But for now, I’m helping my family especially my father in looking after my other siblings and doing the normal chores from day to day.”

He understands that education is important.

 “I think, I’ll be back to school as soon as possible when we have enough money, and I’ll try my best to do well (in school) to make my dreams comes true.

“That’s the other reason I want to go back to school ... education will help me make my dreams come true.

 “Rugby is the only game I watched and I loved playing it as well and if I ever get the chance when I grow older, then I’ll go for it.”

Laloasi believes in the power of the education.

“I know education can help my family out in so many ways,” he said.

“Education can build a new house for my family to live in, and that’s why education is very important to me if only I get a chance to go back to school.

“If not, I’ll continue to help my father at the plantation or else find a job as soon as possible to provide for them financially.

“Life is very hard nowadays, so I have to put my family first, my family is my everything.”

By Ilia L. Likou 29 July 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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