17 September 2005 - Samoa archery is preparing for the South Pacific Games

Samoa archery is preparing for the South Pacific Games

17 September 2005

A lot of changes have taken place in the Samoa Archery Association (SAA) over the last year. Stimulated by the South Pacific Games (SPG), to be held in 2007 in Apia, Samoa a new generation of archers has taken up the challenge to present a full archery team in SPG 2007.

The number of archers in Samoa increases every week. It is already no longer possible at this time to provide each novice with an entry-level bow. That the number of female archers is not inferior to the number of male archers is promising for the future and makes an example to the rest of the Pacific.

The new president of SAA, the young and stimulating Tuala Ah Him has taken the task to form a national squad based on the young and enthusiastic people that are attracted over the last six month to archery. The results so far are promising. SAA gets support not only from FITA, but also from the Samoan government and from the Samoa Association of Sport and National Olympic Committee (SASNOC). The enlargement of the number of coaches is crucial.

On Saturday 17 September 2005 the national coach of American Samoa Dave Tupua together with the development officer conducted an archery clinic in Apia, on the venue of SAA. It was a first milestone in the recent history of archery Samoa. The conductors of the clinic got a high impression of the natural talents among the Samoan youth and of the ability to pick up the art of archery in a short time.

The premises for the SPG include a brand new archery field, already excavated from the hills of Apia. The youth of the Pacific, including the archers of Samoa, is preparing to meet in the SPG.