Juju Smith Schuster talks about Samoan upbringing

Juju Smith Schuster, wide receiver for the New England Patriots, formerly of the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers, received resounding applause from the crowd when he took the podium at the opening this of the football camp sponsored by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame and the Juju Smith Schuster Foundation.

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Speaking to about 200 high school and elementary football players, attending the one day camp at the Veterans Memorial Stadium, Juju talked about growing up in a Samoan household and how football has enabled him to help his family.

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This is his first visit to American Samoa and is traveling with his mother, aunties and girlfriend, together with the co-founders of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, Seiuli Jesse Sapolu and Maa Tanuvasa.

Juju emphasized that just as important as excelling on the field, is hitting the books and getting good grades.

 

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Juju presented a #7 Smith-Schuster jersey to Chief of Staff loa Tuimavave Laupola, who spoke on behalf of Governor Lemanu who couldn’t attend. 

Sapolu also presented 10 Microsoft laptops as gifts to the Department of Education.

Juju’s father, Lawrence Schuster is from Laulii and Apia while his California born mother Sammy Toa Schuster has family in Taputimu.

His mother spoke with KHJ News about Juju’s upbringing.

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The group, which arrived this morning, left for Apia this afternoon, on their way to Australia to conduct another camp there. They completed a football camp in Auckland New Zealand over the weekend.