East Asia-Pacific News Archive

Big boost to cricket as Samoa appoints first-ever development officer

June 1, 2001

Combined release from the Samoa English Cricket Association (SECA) & International Cricket Council (ICC) East – Asia Pacific Development Region

The above organisations are delighted to today announce that Iosua Toilolo has been appointed as the first-ever Development Officer (part-time) for the Samoa English Cricket Association.

Samoa cricketers with ICC Ambassadors, Sir Richard Hadlee and John Reid Photo © ICC

Toilolo, 30, the Samoa National XI wicket-keeper at the recent ICC Pacifica Cricket Championships in Auckland, New Zealand, will be responsible for driving the implementation of the SECA's development programs in relation to all of schools and club cricket at both junior and senior levels.

This appointment, to start immediately, has been made possible via the assistance of the ICC Development

Program which has formed a strong partnership with Samoa cricket, an ICC Affiliate Member. This partnership has also seen major direct support provided to Samoa in the following areas in just the past two months:

• The provision of two portable synthetic wickets
• Funding for Samoa's first-ever cricket practice nets facility to be constructed at Samoa Gardens as a matter of priority
• Funding for an office establishment for the SECA, including computer and e-mail set-up
• The provision of twenty (20) junior Kiwi cricket kits for the SECA's schools program.

"We are delighted to have appointed someone of Toilolo's calibre to fulfil the Development Officer role. This is a very important appointment for us," he concluded.

ICC East Asia – Pacific Development Manager, Matthew Kennedy, who recently visited Samoa, said "There are many hard-working volunteer officials and players in Samoa who have done a fantastic job to grow the sport in that country. However, it was seen as time that some additional manpower support was provided to these people so that more development initiatives can be undertaken amongst this enthusiastic and expanding cricket community. Toilolo's appointment is sure to be a boost for the sport.

"The support levels recently provided to Samoa from the ICC Development Program are quite significant and we are confident that these initiatives will provide long-term benefits. The SECA should be congratulated for its pro- activity," he added.

As a very new ICC Affiliate Member (June 2000), Samoa has successfully laid the initial groundwork for cricket progress to be made. As in many countries, the challenge now is to ensure that all of Samoa cricket's plans and activities, with ICC support, enable a process of continuous and meaningful progression to be achieved within both immediate and long-term development visions for the game at all levels. This will require on-going and professional planning, activity and administration as well as enthusiasm, commitment and contribution from all relevant stakeholders. These include cricket Bodies, administrators, volunteers, umpires, scorers, players, sponsors, government, schools, parents, facility owners/operators etc.

For more information about cricket in Samoa and the above initiatives, please contact SECA President, Seb Kohlhase, Ph. +685 22 790, Fax +685 22 480, E-mail sebk@ipasifika.net.

For more information about the above or the ICC Development Program and this Region, supported by the Australian Cricket Board and New Zealand Cricket, please contact ICC East Asia – Pacific Development Manager, Matthew Kennedy, Ph. +61 3 9653 9921 or +61 (0)409 218 883, Fax +61 3 9653 9911, E-mail matthew_kennedy@acb.com.au.

© ICC