SAMOA: PM launches new attack on Observer over 'stupid' rugby report

Lanuola Tupufia
APIA (Samoa Observer / Pacific Media Watch): Prime Minister of Samoa Tuila'epa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi has downplayed the Samoa Rugby Union’s (SRU) financial state, describing a media report about it owing $800,000 as “stupid.”

“It’s a stupid idea from journalists who don’t understand what they’re doing,” he said, according to the Samoa Observer.

The Samoa Observer reported recently that an independent audit report of the Samoa Rugby Union (SRU) revealed a deficit of nearly $1.5 million tala (NZ$800,000).

The Prime Minister, who is also chairman of the SRU, told media last week that there was nothing to worry about in terms of the SRU’s finances.

He explained that from time to time, the union needed sponsors to prop up its finances.

“Sponsorships help the union financially, otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to participate in matches overseas like the recent one,” the Prime Minister said, referring to the Samoa national rugby union team’s participation in test matches in South Africa.

New trip
“They are also preparing for another trip to Europe where the Rugby Union is finding sponsorships to help,” Tuila'epa added.

The Prime Minister did not comment directly on the findings of the independent audit report of the SRU.

The report, however, questioned the future viability of the SRU because of the considerable debt it has accumulated.

Auditor Lesa ma Penn is also calling on the union to “maintain appropriate financing and the financial support of its stakeholders.”

Contrary to the recent remarks to the media, Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi acknowledged financial problems of the SRU in the foreword to the audit.

“Samoa Rugby Union’s journey from 2012/2013 has not been smooth sailing, especially with insufficient funds to support our touring teams and local competitions,” he wrote.

The Prime Minister's description of the Samoa Observer's rugby union debt story as "stupid" is the latest in a number of stories over the last months where he and the Observer have clashed.

Samoa Observer reporter Lanuola Tupufia is a Graduate Diploma in Pacific Journalism from Auckland University of Technology.

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