Chairman wants online Fundraiser, Samoans want him and his board to resign

In a last ditch effort to save the Manu Samoa rugby team’s upcoming Northern Hemisphere tour, Lakapi Samoa Chairman Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi has announced plans for an ambitious online fundraising campaign. However, this call for donations has been met with widespread resistance from the Samoan public, who are demanding that Tuilaepa and his board step down before they consider contributing to the cause.

Tuilaepa revealed that the union will host a "Tausala Online" fundraising event later this month, coinciding with Lakapi Samoa’s 100-year celebration. The event is designed to rally financial support from the Samoan community, with Manu Samoa players taking centre stage in the campaign to appeal directly to their families, friends, and villages for donations.

Despite the union’s need for funds, the announcement has sparked significant backlash. Many Samoans are expressing frustration with what they see as a long-standing pattern of mismanagement under Tuilaepa’s leadership. Critics argue that the financial instability and lack of progress in Samoan rugby over the past two decades are clear indicators that the current administration is out of touch with the modern game.

Adding to the controversy, Tuilaepa has placed the blame for the union’s financial woes squarely on the shoulders of Prime Minister Fiame Dr. Naomi Mataafa and her government. He has claimed that the lack of government support is the reason behind Lakapi Samoa’s current predicament. However, these claims were swiftly debunked by the Minister of Finance, Lautimuia Uelese Vaai, who clarified that the government had provided substantial financial support to the union. According to the Finance Minister, the government has allocated more than $2 million tala to Lakapi Samoa over the past year, including a $650,000 tala grant from the Ministry of Education, Sports, and Culture—the highest amount given to any sports organisation in Samoa.

The government's funding was supplemented by significant contributions from private sponsors, including over $1 million tala annually from the International Business Finance Centre (IBFC), formerly known as SIFA. Despite these funds, the union continues to face financial challenges, prompting many to question the effectiveness of the current leadership.

Eddie Taualapini, host of the popular ET Live show, voiced the sentiments of many on his Saturday broadcast. "It's time for change," Taualapini said. "Tuilaepa needs to step back or step down and allow a new set of people to come in and run Lakapi Samoa. In the last 20 years, nothing progressive has happened, and there’s nothing to show for it."

These feelings are echoed across the community, with former Manu Samoa players like Aumua Toʻo Vaega and Andy Aiolupo also calling for fresh leadership. They argue that the union needs leaders who understand the current demands of international rugby and can act effectively to ensure the team’s success.

Even outside the rugby sphere, prominent figures like New Zealand-based businessman Lei'ataua Nielsen Petersen have criticised Tuilaepa’s leadership. "Everything Tuilaepa does, he breaks," said Lei'ataua. "He broke the airline, broke the government, and now he's breaking Samoa’s rugby."

On social media, Samoans like Papalii Panoa Moala have been even more direct, urging the Chairman to step down voluntarily. Papalii emphasised that financial viability and sustainability are crucial for any organisation and criticised Tuilaepa for failing to make the union commercially viable without relying on government handouts. "Our government cannot continue to feed you with our public funds without any accountability," he wrote.

The underlying message from the Samoan people is clear: they are unwilling to donate to Lakapi Samoa under the current leadership. Many have stated that their support hinges on Tuilaepa and his board stepping aside to make way for new leadership that can restore confidence in the union and ensure the long-term sustainability of Samoan rugby.

As the Tausala Online fundraiser approaches, the pressure on Tuilaepa and his board is mounting. The community’s resistance to donating under the current administration highlights the deep-seated frustration with the lack of progress and accountability. For many, the future of Samoan rugby depends not just on financial contributions, but on a significant change in leadership at the top.