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Pago Pago, American Samoa— The 2024 Summer Youth Football League Fun Games for boys and girls ages 4 to 12, coordinated by the Football Federation of American Samoa (FFAS), concluded last Saturday at the federation’s headquarters in Pago Pago.
The two-week league kicked off on June 25 and FFAS president Fai’ivae Iuli Alex Godinet described it as a roller coaster of non-stop action, fun and laughter.
“It was great to see these 4- and 5-year-olds full of energy, chasing the ball and kicking it as hard as they could,” he recalled with a smile. “We have to remember that these are our grassroots players and it’s important for them to have fun and develop a love for the game.
“As they get older, they will be eager to improve their performance and with the right guidance and training, we can hone their skills while they are still at this age. It is undoubtedly a worthwhile investment as they are our future national team players.”
The FFAS president, however, noted that the first step in this long-term investment is to attract young people’s interest in the sport by providing incentives such as colorful uniforms, sports equipment and hosting fun and enjoyable leagues.
He believes that as the kids get older and the game becomes more competitive, it will eventually foster their love for the game, especially if they continue to improve and have the opportunity to travel to other countries to play for our national teams.
Fahiwa praised the support of parents and local football club leadership who showed up every day to cheer on the young players.
“The success of our young players depends on the support of parents and local football clubs,” said the FFAS president. “There are many things the league can do, but if we all work together we can achieve so much more.
“We need to promote the sport at the grassroots level in schools, clubs and villages so that when these young players grow up they can play at a higher level than they are now.”
That sentiment was echoed by competition manager Augustine Grey, who described the league as a “win-win” situation.
“We want the kids to have fun first and enjoy the game,” Gray said. “As they get older, their competitiveness gets stronger and their talent and drive improves with technical instruction and development.”
He pointed out that with the support of parents, teachers and coaches, these young players can move to the next level by participating in village, club or school leagues.
This year’s youth summer league was a huge success, with the courts in Pago Pago packed with young players and their parents and relatives lining the sidelines to cheer them on.
The competition venue was divided into several small fields, and the teams competed fiercely in a sea of colors over the past two weeks.
The event ended with an awards ceremony, where players who performed well on the field received prizes. However, no one left empty-handed, as each player received a backpack filled with school supplies.
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