Samoa / Auckland cricket development partnership blossoming

Junior action during the visit © ICC

The development work of Cricket Samoa was recently given a significant boost with a visit from Auckland Cricket CEO, Andrew Eade.

As part of the ICC East Asia Pacific (EAP) Development Program's State/Province Partnership Program, Auckland Cricket and Cricket Samoa have been linked to further foster cricket in the developing nation.

During the week long visit to Samoa, Mr Eade witnessed first hand Samoa's Cricket Development Program, which currently targets Primary Schools. This program is coordinated by the four Cricket Development Officers who attended the recent Level 1 Coaches Seminar in Auckland.

The visit also gave Cricket Samoa the opportunity to gain assistance with strategic and business planning. During a meeting with the CEO and members of the Board, Mr Eade noted the link between the aims and goals for Auckland Cricket and Cricket Samoa and the need to work cooperatively with Cricket Samoa to help develop both junior and elite cricket participation.

Mr Eade also highlighted the need to look at other aspects of development other than participation and noted that Cricket Samoa would need to work just as hard on areas such as facility development, management and business administration and sponsorship as it has already has with junior development.

The visit culminated in a village cricket celebration at the Safata Cricket Center. The celebration included a `friendly' match between Teuila Festiva Cricket Champs Don Bosco and Laulaau Mai Farani, a game of `Kirrikiti' and a presentation ceremony, all of which was also attended by Sky TV New Zealand and former New Zealand Black Caps cricketer, Samoan Murphy Su`a.

Mr Eade noted that the Primary Schools Cricket Program was a positive step forward for Cricket Samoa and something from which cricket would certainly benefit in the future. By working with teachers, principals and school committees Mr Eade noted that Cricket Samoa was ensuring that the awareness of the game and a willingness to include the sport in the Primary Schools Curriculum continued to grow.

Mr Eade met with the Regional Primary School Cricket Committees in the Lefaga / Faleesela, Lepa / Lotofaga and Safata Districts which are made up of Head Teachers from Primary and Secondary Schools as well as locally appointed Cricket Development Officers. During these visits Mr Eade highlighted the partnership between Auckland Cricket and Cricket Samoa and spoke about some of the long-term development opportunities such a partnership could foster.

Mr Eade was also invited to meet with the Patron of Cricket Samoa The Honourable Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi. During this visit the Prime Minister recalled some of the early origins of cricket in Samoa and indicated his hope to see the game develop throughout the country.

This was Mr Eade's second visit to Samoa, following on from a trip he made some five years earlier in his role as ICC East Asia-Pacific Regional Development Manager. Since that time Cricket Samoa, through the hard work of the Cricket Samoa Board and the renewed interest from the villages, has made significant inroads into the further development of cricket throughout Samoa.

Mr Eade noted the significant steps Cricket Samoa has made over recent times and looked towards a positive future with relationships between Auckland Cricket and Cricket Samoa enhancing the development of cricket in both localities.