By Staff Writer
Opposition HRPP leader, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, will have no hesitation flying in ‘Toa Samoa’ at a snap, for a heroes welcome at home, if the country had its own aircraft.
A public holiday will also be declared to celebrate with the team as well as monetary rewards for the players.
“If we were in government, all that will be done for our team, after they had put Samoa on the world pedestal, why not?,” Tuilaepa promised.
His intentions of flying in the team starts off the red carpet treatment for the rugby league heroes, anticipating home fans are looking forward to.
The former PM is also the Patron of the Samoa Rugby League in Samoa and President of the Samoa rugby Union.
His aircraft wish for Samoa was in direct response to public enquiries into the delays of having the Toa Samoa in Apia.
Tuilaepa made his thoughts clear in his weekly media conference today at HRPP Petesa headquarters.
“But I do want to compliment the Prime Minister for attending the cup final to show support for our team and represent all of us from the Head of State down to everyone.
“I want also (as opposition leader) to re-affirm our support for extracting money already promised and budgeted for our electoral constituencies, $20,000 each, for our Toa Samoa.”
Tuilaepa believed Government should take this as a lesson for the future as there is much to learn from this for the next World Rugby League Cup.
He is confident the best players with Samoan heritage in New Zealand and Australia will all want to play for the Toa Samoa in the next world championship.
Doing so would lift the profile for Samoa to a level where they are competitive against the bigger countries as top tiers of the sport.
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