You got it! Thus I am truly grateful to the Samoa Rugby Union SRU and all of its mismanagement troubles for bringing me out of my writing block – more like my thinking block!
I am suppose to be in my sick bed today, so naturally I browsed through Face Book and there stumbled across an opinion piece from Mata’afa Keni Lesa of the Samoa Observer (Samoa’s only daily Newspaper) over the issue of Manu Samoa 15’s players threatening to boycott the game against England next week, due to ongoing and certainly not new, concerns of poor
This is an issue which made its ugly head through the surface not long before and after the 2011 Rugby World Cup in Auckland. When then Captain Mahonri Schwalger wrote a letter to the Prime Minister of Samoa (also Chairman of the SRU) Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, outlining concerns of corruption in management, players ending up paying their own fares to some games and tournaments, players’ pay - peanuts compared to other professional rugby nations, player selection influences etc.
The response saw Schwalger dropped from the Manu Samoa squad (when he was at the top of his career with the Waikato Chiefs), continued employment of some of the management named in the concerns, no raise of allowances, threats and hints of recruiting local players only (about 80% of the team are overseas based and developed players), simply because the overseas born and based Samoan players were mainly the ones who dared to question the authorities, and not much changes at all.
Now history has repeated itself in almost the same exact way, with some senior players penning their frustrations on a letter, this time to the International Rugby Board IRB with the following concerns:
*Our coaches are not given complete reign to pick whom they deem as the country’s best players
*Our team gets announced on Social Media sites before players are notified
*There is no financial transparency within the organisation
*Funds that were suspected to be misused were followed up by a questionable audit process
*Players who ask questions are made examples of and black-listed
*Tour ‘allowances’ have been frozen at NZ $1000 since 1990. Any requests to have this reviewed have been ignored
*Players are expected to pay their own airfares back to Samoa for end of year tours
*The coaching level in between World Cups has been poor
Furthermore, this time around, the threat to boycott the game against England holds the SRU accountable for an estimated loss of $19million tala (that it doesn’t have) which England stands to lose if the game doesn’t go ahead.
This all came with much associated international media coverage, and threats to boycott the game against England next week. The world media is on full alert, as it should, world heads are turning, highly interested to see how this will play out, but in typical old fashioned Samoan response – the SRU Chairman and leader of our country – has indicated that the only heads that will be rolling – are the authors’ of that letter!
Wow, fantastic response. Let’s all clap and give the SRU a standing ovation.
This whole fiasco has been likened to an overgrown full blown wound by many sports critiques and professionals across the world. The SRU has not treated the wound accurately over the years, and has only used band aid temporary solutions. Now the shit’s hit the fan, and the leaders of World Rugby can’t stand back and do nothing, now they must intervene and fix the problems of a troubled rugby nation. Meetings have been scheduled with the players for the end of this week, to meet with IRB leaders and Rugby heads across the board. In true Western democratic civilized fashion, where the opinions and concerns of players are addressed professionally and methodically to find logical solutions for all parties involved, rather than threats.
Samoans above all, dislike outsiders telling them how to run their own country and how things should be done where Samoans are concerned. This is all admirable and we are all proud of this attribute of our people because it created a resilience that has made us the first independent nation of the South Pacific Islands.
But alas, this very same attitude has been exaggerated and manipulated by various factors to suit individuals’ agendas to the point that it has become Samoa’s number one enemy to progression in the modern world. This is how I and others, like me standing from the side lines view it. There’s no two ways about it.
The same disdain for outside intervention has led to an ugly but very real mentality and attitude of discriminating against Samoans born, raised and living overseas where opinions and mind sets clash.
A classic example in this scab of a problem is the SRU Chairman and PM of Samoa Tuilaepa drawing a line between local players and overseas born, raised and based players, questioning their loyalty to the country.
I am personally sick of hearing these discriminating remarks. We’ve all heard and read it on social media every time there’s a Manu Samoa game or an All Blacks game. Every time the AB’s play your newsfeed is filled with island based haters hating on the AB’s simply because the NZ based Samoans are fully behind their country of residence.
Let’s cut the bull shit. Samoans are discriminating against their own people and it is disgraceful and abhorrent behaviour and attitude and the culprits should all be flogged.
It is this type of behaviour and attitude that gives all of us a bad name, when we are all trying so hard, in all our own little ways to improve the image and reputation of our people and country however we can. This is the behaviour of idiotic uneducated fools and I am not proud to say that my fellow country men and women are usually privy to it.
It made me think of my own two sons. They were born in Samoa and we moved to NZ five years ago. They did not know a thing about rugby, but thanks to a kiwi education and their rugby unions, they have been moulded into fine young players. Players who will no doubt come into their full potential one day – Lord willing and provide, and they will decide to either play for NZ or for their country of birth, the land we are all so proud of and all so deeply rooted to - Samoa.
They are already thinking about this decision at the tender age of 14 and nine. (Children have clear vision of goals and dreams these days). As much as the AB’s alluring promise of stardom and greatness poses clear huge benefits financially and career wise, nationalism is a beautiful and strong force. A force that will blindly drive a man away from a lifetime opportunity to the arms of freedom and liberation in the name of loyalty, love and country. Much to their mothers’ and families’ dismay I’m sure.
The same can be said for the disgruntled players who have voiced their grievances with the IRB over the SRU mishandling in the last few days. Many of them were either born or migrated to NZ or another overseas country and have made their homes overseas. They have and are performing exceptionally well in club contracts overseas and elsewhere, thanks to the enormous contribution of their adopted countries by moulding and coaching them from primary age to the very top of the sport which has helped produce exceptional rugby players for Samoa. That process of moulding no doubt evolved through a participative and democratic healthy approach. Where questions are asked freely, opinions are heard, problems are resolved through healthy dialogue and consultation and solutions are formulated for the long run and not for certain individuals’ interests only.
Despite all that, they have chosen to represent their mother country, the land of their ancestors, not for money, but for love of country. A country that recently has shown through its leadership, that it will only value their contribution as long as they don’t ask questions. As long as they are submissive and follow only what their leaders say, and not ask questions of their leadership and authority, whether they are doing wrong or right, they (the authorities) are doing the right thing.
By being submissive to authority, they are considered as being culturally sensitive and respectful. Children must only be seen and not heard comes to mind in this picture. The Prime Minister and SRU Chairman Tuilaepa’s response to players’ grievances and letter was to brush it off as - “opinions of little kids”, “who don’t understand”. This is truly disappointing coming from someone who is considered one of the greatest leaders of the Pacific in the last decade.
Is this what all parents want for their sons in the future? I don’t. But I can rightfully predict that the SRU Chairman’s response to that and those who blindly follow him would most likely say; “then they can play for another country”.
This is not a response of a leader, it is the arrogance of someone who’s held too much power for far too long.
Players who put their bodies and careers on the line for their country, deserve respect and professional treatment and response from its leader. They deserve to be heard and addressed as any other individual and country man of Samoa. Samoa does not only belong to those living in Samoa. It belongs to anybody who is of Samoan blood and descent whether they live in Samoa or not. These players represent Samoa and have continue to put Samoan on the map everywhere they go with sportsmanship and pride – they have the right to be heard.
Moving forward, culture and religion is being abused far too often to manipulate the systems of government and authority in Samoa, and it has leaped onto sports.
So much so, that often we read and observe attitudes and behaviours to be completely confusing one and the other with normal everyday business and operation of a country.
There must be a clear line between, politics, governance and culture and religion.
Furthermore, I may stand to be corrected, but I think, that Samoa is the only rugby nation who’s country’s leader has such a strong stance and hold on it’s national rugby team. Even the Power Houses of rugby the likes of NZ, Australia, England and South Africa don’t see their country’s leaders interfering with the management of their unions and teams! No, John Key – the World’s Number One Rugby Team’s Prime Minister, has far too many more vital things to look after – like running a country for example.
It’s about time, an independent body should be elected to erect a new face of the SRU and its management systems.
But hey, that’s just my unsolicited opinion!
Best of luck to those brave men, clearing the path for all young future Manu Samoa players and the future of Samoan rugby!
A boycott is viewed as one of the best turns/game changer to Samoan rugby politics from my end of the recliner!
