The Tafuna Jets Soccer Club kicked-off their soccer league last week at their main field in front of Samoa NAPA in Tafuna, as part of their preparation for the celebration of their 30-year anniversary this week.
Under the leadership of their long time president, who also is one of the people who started the club in 1986, Naomi Lokeni-Oney told Samoa News during an interview last week that their main goal is to educate young people on how to play soccer and also look for better future for them through this sport.
“Our goal is to help our children and young people have an opportunity in their future through education and scholarships,” she told Samoa News.
Every year since the club was established, Lokeni-Oney said, they continue to set up programs like the Summer Program and weekend tournaments, to help educate youngsters who show an interest in the sport, and continue to teach them the basics rules and the techniques of the game.
Young members of the Tafuna Jets Soccer Club with trophies that they won at previous tournaments pose for the Samoa New camera before the opening of their soccer tournament last week as part of the celebration of their 30th year anniversary. [photo: AF]
“Our summer program not only keeps children involved and away from trouble, but we also are able to share our talents with them and find ways to help them continue on to play by looking for scholarships for them so that they can move to the next level and to open other opportunities for them to continue on to play in the future,” the club’s president said.
According to Lokeni-Oney, because their club was established way back before FIFA opened in American Samoa, preparations and funding for all of these program for young children were funded by members of the club throughout these years, and it is something that makes them feel proud for what they have done for many children.
“As we’re celebrating this week 30 years since our soccer club was established, it’s an honor for me as the president to continue on with my service to the community, through the help of my family and friends. We also want to thank our many sponsors who have assisted us throughout all these years — without your support we would be unable to lend our service for our children,” she concluded.