Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that after consultation with The Honorable Aliioaiga Feturi Elisaia, Samoa’s ambassador to the United Nations and also the United States, and Samoan community in the Los Angeles area, a welcoming reception will be held for the Manu Samoa upon their arrival to play in the USA Sevens International Rugby Tournament. 

The reception will be on Thursday, February 10, 2005, 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the Alpine Village in Torrance, California.  Serving as overall chairperson for this welcoming event is Mrs. Tuitogamatoe Terri Reid Rotter, who along with her husband, Mr. Hans Rotter, is proprietor and owner of Alpine Village.  The Samoan community is welcome to join the reception and meet members of the Manu Samoa Rugby team.

The Manu Samoa will be among 16 of the world’s best national teams competing at the USA Sevens International Rugby Tournament on February 12-13, 2005.  Hosted by the USA national team, the other teams include those from England, Fiji, Tonga, West Indies, Samoa, New Zealand, Scotland, Uruguay, South Africa, Australia, Canada, Argentina, France, Kenya, and Mexico.  The tournament will be played at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. 

            “I remember traveling to Wales, England in 1991 to give support and encouragement to the Manu Samoa Rugby team who at the time qualified to be among the 16 top national teams that competed for the World Cup,” Congressman Faleomavaega said.  “The world was shocked when the Manu Samoa, an unknown team from a small island nation of only 160,000 people, surprisingly defeated the national teams of Wales and Argentina.  After losing to Australia, the Manu Samoa ended up in the quarterfinals against Scotland.”

            “I also remember when the Manu Samoa team came to fundraise in American Samoa where they pushed a wheel barrow around Tutuila and received over $150,000 in cash and thousands of dollars more in in-kind gifts.  The truth is, although Manu Samoa is the national team of Samoa, Samoans in American Samoa, Hawaii, Mainland United States and around the world view the Manu Samoa as their team and will support them wherever they go.”

            “At this time, I want to thank Mrs. Tuitogamatoe Rotter and High Chief Mailo Siaosi Tofaeono, on behalf of myself and Ambassador Aliioaiga Elisaia, for coordinating this welcoming reception.  I sincerely hope our Samoan community from around California will come out to join us in hosting the Manu Samoa and cheering them on during the games.  Finally, I want to congratulate the Manu Samoa team and wish them the very best of luck during the tournament,” the Congressman concluded.

Congressman Faleomavaega and The Honorable Aliioaiga Feturi Elisaia, Samoa’s Ambassador to the United Nations and to the United States.