Keeping Kirikiti Sāmoa alive on our shores

The president of the Asosi Kirikiti A Samoa Committee, Fiu Siolo Aloese, is urging all Kirikiti Samoa teams across the country if interested in taking part in the next national celebration to prepare well and get started.

Speaking to the Savali News from Tuanaimato at the English cricket grounds, where the final leg of the Samoan Kirikiti Independence Cup 2026 tournament was being held last week, he stressed the importance of keeping the sport alive.

Citing the crucial positives of what it brings about in the community – unity, fellowship and entertainment.

The tournament brought together 50 villages from across the country, with both men’s and women’s teams from Upolu and Savai’i.

According to Fiu, the sport has always been kept alive in Savai’i, and in the past, before the independence, the tournament urged teams from Upolu to travel over to the big island for competition.

However, following this extraordinary initiative, which the president alluded to having been projected by Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt himself, it is likely the sport will return to its old practices.

He did, however, tell the Savali Newspaper that if this is the interest from local teams for the independence tournament, he imagines the Teuila Festival, which is often celebrated in September, will attract a bigger pool of competitors.

The one thing that he urged players and teams to keep in mind is to play fair and with honesty and not to cheat, as this was a problem in the past with many teams.

During a special ceremony to officially open the various sporting competitions organised for Independence 2026 that was held on the front lawn of the Government Building, FMFM II, Eleele Fou, on Friday, May 29, 2026, the prime minister announced that another Samoa cricket tournament will take place again during the Teuila Tourism Festival.

At the time he reminded how the sport plays a crucial role in fostering unity and instilling a sense of national pride.

Many Samoan traditions and proverbs trace their roots back to the sport.

In olden days, competitions unified the Samoan people and the villages and attracted many spectators from across the country regardless of where the sport was being held.

Another matter that Fiu raised was a cricket field specifically for Samoan cricket – the field where the tournament was being held at Tuanaimato is for English cricket.

He pointed out the field was makeshift and, after the tournament concluded, had to be removed to cater to English cricket.

So he reminded of the importance of having a field specifically to cater for this sport.

The tournament, especially organised for the celebration of Samoa’s 64th independence, ran for three weeks.

Fiu also reminded that financial support was essential in keeping it going.

Written by: Jasmine Netzler (Savali Newspaper)

IMAGE/ATA: Jasmine Netzler & Taunuuga Toatasi / Savali Newspaper