Last night the official opening ceremony saw FFAS President Faiivae Alex Godinet and the executive committee welcome Lotoha’apai United of Tonga and Tupapa Maraerenga of Cook Islands as well as local side Pago Youth.
“I am excited to be welcoming these teams to American Samoa and I am also thankful to the OFC President and executive committee for selecting American Samoa to be the host for this first stage of the OFC Champions League,” Godinet told the gathered crowd.
“It is a pleasure to have your presence here with us in American Samoa.”
FFAS vice-president Sandra Fruean is just as excited to see the club champions from the four neighbouring countries getting ready to compete in the American territory.
“We’ve been through a lot trying to put this together and we are pleased that all the hard work is now coming together,” she says.
“We’ve set up the field in Pago Pago and also a second one and I think we’re ready to get the games rolling – everything is on target and on schedule.”
Unfortunately Samoa club champions Kiwi were not present at the opening ceremony but the visiting teams were overwhelmed by the hospitality of their hosts.
Tupapa Maraerenga coach Delany Yaqona said his side had been stunned by the exceptional welcoming they had received already – with a delegation of FFAS staff and volunteers ready and waiting to offer a warm welcome upon their arrival at the airport.
“On behalf of the Cook Island team I’d like to thank you for the welcome,” Yaqona said. “It’s been amazing and I’, sure we will enjoy this year’s competition as much as we did last year’s in Tonga.
“I’m sure everything that could be done, has been done to make this a great tournament.”
FFAS CEO Tavita Taumua says the experience of preparing and hosting an OFC tournament is new to him especially, and he’s enjoying the challenges it has thrown his way.
“We hosted an OFC Congress in 2011 but the organisation is different to a tournament. I think it has been a learning curve, it’s new especially for me, but we are enjoying the process,” Taumua says.
“This opening is an opportunity for the association and the president to welcome our guests – as is the island style – and to officially open the competition.”
The OFC Champions League Preliminary is being held at Pago Park Soccer Stadium in Pago Pago from 15-19 October.
The four competing club champions from American Samoa, Samoa, Tonga and Cook Islands are all chasing direct entry to the group stage of OFC’s premier club competition, the OFC Champions League, being held in April 2014 in Fji.
To watch the official opnening ceremony, click here

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