New Zealand tag team runs clinic at Pesega

By Adel Fruean 06 September 2018, 12:00AM

Church College Pesega was recently the scene of a tag team training clinic held by New Zealand team Counties Manukau All Stars. 

Students from Years 11 to 13, who are taking health and physical education course, learnt new skills and played with the New Zealand tag team.

The training clinic is part of International Tag Teuila Tournament in Samoa programme that is currently underway and is organized by The Samoa Tau Tag Incorporated Committee. The actual tournament started yesterday at the Football Federation Samoa fields. 

The Counties Manukau All Stars coach, May Apulu, said that they were in Samoa to participate in this year’s tag tournament.

“But not only that, it’s also for teaching the locals how to play the game in terms of skills and rules. We are a newly established team of 17 men and six women and so we will be playing in the men’s and mix division.

“Tag is a really fun sport once you get used to playing it, it’s a non-contact sport and that makes it safe for anyone to play. The preparation for our team so far is going well, the only concern is adjusting everyone to the heat, because Samoa is very hot and obviously we are not used to the heat. But we are getting there with keeping ourselves hydrated,” May said.

A Counties Manukau All Stars player, Jerome Brown, said that the school clinics would assist in the development of tag as a sport in Samoa.

“Giving back to our people through such initiatives is quite significant. The sport is unique because it does not limit its ages, it’s really safe.

 “I look forward for more tournaments in the future but especially for tag as a sport to grow immensely,” Jerome stated.

Vice Principal of Church College Pesega, Brother Tuasivi Elisara, said that they were blessed to have the New Zealand team visit their school along with the introduction of the sport of tag. 

“Sport is part of education and so we are looking for more opportunities for the students in terms of sports. And who knows this might be a sport that a particular student has the talent for.

“It is important to develop the skills at a young age, because they might choose a future in sports.

“We also prioritize equality within our school and that refers to our female students in sports too hence their participation in this initiative. We believe that what men can do, women can do too,” he said.  

The sport of Tag was created over 20 years ago as a way of involving athletes of all ages and skill levels. The sport has evolved over time and is popular with family and work teams also participating.

By Adel Fruean 06 September 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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