It was raining when the private jet bringing FIFA President Gianni Instantino touched down at Pago Pago International Airport, Friday, nearly two hours behind schedule.
Children from various soccer clubs stood in the rain to wave and cheer as the VIP SUV with Mr. Instantino and President of the Football Federation of American Samoa Faiivae Alex Iuli drove from the tarmac, heading to Utulei.
Despite getting wet, the children shouted, “Gianni!” as the smiling VIP peered out the window and waved.
From the airport, he and his entourage, which included Deputy General Secretary —Football, Mattias Grafström, Senior Football Advisor and FIFA World Cup 1998 winner— Youri Djorkaeff and FIFA Legend Houssine Kharja, were taken to the guesthouse at Utulei for an ava ceremony. The FIFA President was served the first cup of ava and his delegation also got to taste the traditional drink.
A meeting with Acting Governor Talauega followed.
FIFA reports that the FFAS has set aside FIFA Forward funds to build a new high-performance center including a small stadium, once land is acquired, a process which requires government support.
It is also planned to use FIFA Forward funding to improve the national competitions for men and women, finance national team costs, improve coaching standards and re-develop the current technical center.
Acting Governor Talauega said that the government was working with the FFAS to provide some land that would enable the building of world class pitches. “We are very interested in expanding our collaboration with FIFA so that we can really develop soccer here in American Samoa and in turn in the Pacific community,” he said. “We would ask for FIFA support in terms of fields and coaching, so that we can really develop and promote the game here in American Samoa.”
It was still sprinkling when the visitors headed to the FFAS headquarters in Pago Pago, which was built with FIFA funding.
Much to the surprise and delight of local soccer teams, who were at the Pago Field, the President and his men took to the field in a friendly match. One of the players on the local side was Jaiyah Saelua, known to be the only faafafine to play in a FIFA qualifying match.
In the evening, President Faiivae Alex Godinet and FFAS hosted a dinner at DDW for the FIFA President and his delegation.
During the dinner, Mr. Instantino extended an invitation to Jaiyah Saelua to travel with his delegation to the final match of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, which is co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia.
While attending the World Cup, the FIFA President is using the opportunity to visit soccer federations in the Pacific Islands.
Before coming here he visited Cook Islands, from here he will be in Samoa then Tonga, before flying back to New Zealand and Australia.
Photos: FIFA & KHJ News
