NEWSPAGE 13 July
2011

(Photo: Singer.com)

NEW ZEALAND: Pacific Māori music hits International Barbershop Championships

(Photos: eventpolynesia.com)

SAMOA: Warren Fuiava wins in China
Source: eventpolynesia.com

Warren Fuiava has arrived back in Samoa via Auckland after winning a six rounds light heavyweight contest by unanimous decision against Lefoumbou Ngoma of the Democratic Republic of Congo in China.

The farmer boy from Fa’ala Palauli and Lalomalava villages in the big island of Savaii in Samoa is quickly building a fan base in New Zealand and recently in China with an impressive performance viewed by 14 million in China on free to air television.

Fuiava’s journey from Fa’ala in Samoa to Humili in China involved a marathon of four connecting flights from Samoa via Auckland, Hong Kong, Chendu and Xichang airports in China, a total of twenty two hours on the plane plus four hours drive by bus to reach Humili.

According to respected match maker John Glozier, “There’s a lot of interest in China to see Fuiava back, possibly a title fight before the end of this year.”

Lawrence Tauasa who is currently training and fighting out of Hong Kong fought on the same card but was unable to repeat Fuiava’s winning performance. Tauasa lost to Chauncy Welliver of America by KO in the fourth round of a 12 rounds heavyweight bout.

Fuiava is the second professional boxer from the Event Polynesia stable to impressive promoters and boxing fans in China in the last twelve months. Last year, Pele Faumui also won by unanimous decision against local boxer Mourigen Bater in a six rounds middleweight contest.

Managing Director of Event Polynesia, Pa’u Fereti Puni, however is disappointed that two of the most exciting prospect fighters in New Zealand are left out of the upcoming David Tua verses Monte Barrett card.

According to Puni, “SKY cannot afford to rely on the main event to carry the promotion. Having a good undercard is your safety net.”

“We were contacted by SKY in June for Warren Fuiava to fight Daniel McKinnon. Later we were informed Daniel McKinnon will be fighting Maselino Masoe instead.”

“Vaitele Soi and Warren Fuiava are available and ready to fight anyone,” said Puni.

Vaitele Soi is now ranked number three in the New Zealand cruiserweight division after winning the 2011 Last Man Standing tournament in May, beating former WBO African title holder Mohammed Azzaoui in one of the semi finals and laid claim to beating one of New Zealand’s finest fighters - kickboxing legend Shane “Chopper” Chapman in the final.

Soi is currently in Auckland sparring Shane Cameron ahead of Cameron’s title challenge in the week-end for the Commonwealth title currently held by Dominic Vea of Australia.

Fuiava is the current Samoa Light Heavyweight champion with an unblemished professional record of 14 fights, 14 wins, 4 by way of knock out. His last KO performance was in June with a fifth-round knockout of Anthony Mundine-camp prospect Daniel Baff on the Sonny Bill William’s ‘Clash for Canterbury’ in Auckland.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - Warren Fuiava after winning in China.

Photo 2 - Lawrence Tauasa, Warren Fuiava and Event Polynesia head trainer Leapai Richard Brown.
 

(Photo: Samoa News)

AMERICAN SAMOA: Toa o Samoa Sgt. Salima of Aua completes martial arts training
Source: Samoa News

United States Marine Corps Sergeant Thomas Fatu Salima from the village of Aua is stationed in Afghanistan at Fort Dwyer, and recently contacted Samoa News via email, to report on the Martial Arts Instructor (MAI) course he recently completed there.

Sergeant Salima, who enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2005, is the son of Fatua and Barbara Salima is a 2001 graduate of Fagaitua High School and a 2004 graduate of ASCC.

"I have been in Afghanistan for over 10 months and have only two more months to go. On July 6, I graduated from a 4-week Martial Arts Instructor course," said SGT Salima.

"I hold the Military Operational Specialty (MOS) of 0231 (Intelligence Specialist). I am one of the Senior Analysts for the RCT-1 Intel Section. For the majority of this deployment I have been the production and Analysts Chief working in conjunction with Counter-Improvised Explosives Devices. After graduating from the MAI course, I gained the additional secondary MOS of 0916."

He went on to say that ten Marines and one HM1 Navy Corpsman went through the course and all made it through and graduated. Martial Arts Instructor-Trainer, Capt. Frederick D. Monday, the XO for the Civil Affairs Detachment in support of Regional Combat Team-1, instructed the course.

"I went through the course with my SNCOIC GySgt Michael Exlos. One Mind, Any Weapon... this is the motto of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP).

"It revolves around building and training Marines to become ‘Moral' and ‘Ethical' warriors, using the ‘Whole' Marine concept. We develop killing machines that uphold the values and warrior ethos of the Marine Corps. There are three disciplines of MCMAP... Mental, Physical and Character Disciplines. A synergy is created by fusing the disciplines using Core value Tie-Ins, Warrior Studies and Martial Culture studies in conjunction with rigorous and aggressive combat conditioning and martial arts technique sustainment."

He explained: "A warrior study is done by choosing an individual (military past or present) that exemplifies the epitome of what a warrior is and then explaining to your students how that individual displayed the moral, mental and physical traits of a combat leader or war hero through their personal disregard for their own safety to save fellow service members, or fearless, courageous and decisive actions against the enemy.

A Martial Culture Study takes a look into to the development and training of warrior civilizations such as the Spartans, the Native American Apache, or South African Zulu to learn different aspects of the combat mindset as well as learn where the basics or certain techniques and movements were derived."

"Along with the very physical and aggressive nature of this training, there was very demanding academic curriculum that required us to sit through daily military periods of instruction. We were required to pass multiple written exams and performance evaluations to ensure we could conduct a Martial Arts period of instruction and teach Marines effectively and efficiently when we are done with the course," said SGT Salima.

Some of their specialized training included knife fighting techniques and knife fighting, combat conditioning, martial arts technique sustainment and re-mediation, bugle stick bouts, enemy prisoner of war, controlling techniques, and enhanced pain compliance techniques.

Also included were submission ground fighting, boxing, free sparring and an Integrated Martial Art and Live Fire Field exercises. Training also occurred in boots with utilities and body armor and on certain days they would run with their weapons (condition 4) and kevlar, just to mention some of the training.

"Ask any Marine about the MAI or MAI-T course and they will tell you a story of bitter sweet pain and how rewarding it was to get through it and graduate to earn the title of Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor," he said.

"I now hold the Brown Belt of MCMAP Instructor. I have been training for six years in the MCMAP program and when the opportunity presented itself, I jumped at chance to train. Just one of the many ways for me to give back to the Marine Corps by taking care of Marines so we can all continue contributing to the fight. Black belt is not too far away. Hopefully, I can complete the training for that as well before going home after this deployment."

He also went on to say that he hopes to someday train new young Marines from right here in the territory, because there are a lot of young men and women from American Samoa who would great Marines.

He concluded, "I would like to make a shout-out to one of my many brothers, Baron Thomsen and long time best and brother, Laupule Tilei, both from Aua. As kids, they played a big part in developing my interest in Martial Arts, they would have been tough Marines. To the rest of my family and friends at home, I Love You Guys."

Photo Caption: Sgt Salima and Cpl Brewer with MAI class 01-11 doing tyre-flips down the dirt roads of Camp Dwyer.
 

(Photo: The Fiji Times)

FIJI: Kirwan salute
Source: Fiji Times

Former All Black John Kirwan has rated the Flying Fijians as the greatest attacking side in the world.

Kirwan, coach of the Japan team, said Fiji's impressive performance against Samoa gave a clear indication of the team's ability. He said they were wary of the Fijians running game and would be tightening their defence.

"Fiji is the greatest attacking side in the world," Kirwan said. "They can score tries like they did on Saturday against any team in the world. Fiji played really well against Samoa. It was a big change from their previous game. They were good in the ruck. They played with confidence. I think the greatest thing about Fiji is that they score some incredibly great tries because they have some of the best athletes in the world from a rugby attacking point of view."

Japan hasn't beaten Fiji in the PNC since its inception in 2006.

The two countries have faced each other on 11 occasions with Fiji coming out victorious nine times. Fiji's both losses against Japan were in 1994. Kirwan said several changes would be made to the run-on side tomorrow.

He said the aim was to test all the players ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

"We know that we have our work cut out against Fiji," Kirwan said.

"We need to get our defensive line right and never relax. If you relax then you will get a try scored against you."

Kirwan said they would have a short turnaround period at the RWC.

He said they were practising this schedule in the PNC. "We are really looking at having our top guys in the team for the games against Italy and the United States later," Kirwan said.

"Unfortunately in the RWC some of the second tier nations get a short turnaround. We got France on Saturday, the All Blacks on Friday night, Tonga on the Wednesday and Canada on the Tuesday. So we will not be able to train on the second half of our schedule so we are practising that. We should be making several changes for the match against Fiji. We do not have any injuries in the team."

Japan is placed at the bottom of the PNC points table.

Photo Caption: Japan coach John Kirwan faces the media.

TAHITI: Rally in support of Air Tahiti Nui boss
Source: Radio New Zealand International

A demonstration has been held outside the French Polynesian assembly in support of the head of Air Tahiti Nui who is expected to be sacked this week.

The rally has been organised by four key unions which are adamant that Cedric Pastour should not be dismissed.

An undertaking to have him removed was given by the President Oscar Temaru earlier this month when a five-day strike by some crew members was called off.

A one-day strike has been called to coincide with the rally but its effect is expected to be minimal because flights have been rescheduled.
 

(Photo: Pacific Games Council)

WORLDWIDE: 2011 Pacific Games Disputes Tribunal appointment
Source: Pacific Games Press Release via Scoop Independent News
 

New Zealand barrister, Tim Castle, has been appointed Chairman of the Disputes Tribunal for the 2011 Pacific Games to be held in New Caledonia from 27 August until 10 September.

The Pacific Games are a four yearly event for the following 22 countries and territories ranging from the north to the south of the Pacific Ocean:

American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji Islands, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis & Futuna.

At the 2011 Games, the 27 sports in which athletes from all 22 countries and territories will compete include:

Compulsory

Athletics, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Football, Golf, Rugby 7s, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Va’a (Outrigger Canoeing), Volleyball, Weightlifting

Optional

Archery, Badminton, Baseball, Bodybuilding, Boxing, Cricket, Judo, Karate, Powerlifting, Sailing, Shooting, Squash, Surfing, Taekwondo, Triathlon

The Pacific Games are considered to be key to the international competitive prospects of athletes from the countries of the Pacific as a stepping stone to international competitions, such as the Commonwealth Games and even the Olympic Games.

The Pacific Games, formerly known as the South Pacific Games, are held in different nations of the Pacific each four years. In the intervening two years the Pacific Mini Games are held, again as part of the potential stepping stone progress athletes can make from this region.

Several years ago Tim Castle was closely involved in redesigning and redrafting new constitutional protocols for the Pacific Games Council, including the crucial eligibility rules and regulations governing rights of participation across many small island nations.

For family or employment reasons athletes of the Pacific move, work, train and live in various countries, even gain residency there, particularly where work is available away from the countries of their birth. Special eligibility rules were designed to meet these particular circumstances affecting the peoples of the South Pacific.

In a statement issued today by Andrew Minogue, Executive Director of the Pacific Games Council based in New Caledonia, the Council recognised the expertise and experience Tim Castle brings to this role as he did also as Chairman of the Games Disputes Tribunal for the 13th South Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa in 2007.

Tim was the first member from Oceania including Australasia to be appointed to the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) based in Switzerland in 1991. This year his 20th year as a member of that Court was recognised. CAS is the world’s principal sports disputes adjudication body.

One of the more recent cases in which Tim sat as member of CAS relating to the South Pacific was in the case which Fiji brought to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the exclusion of its athletes from the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, in 2010 following Fiji’s suspension from the Commonwealth.

In addition the Pacific Games Council recognise that Tim was an inaugural appointee to the New Zealand Sports Disputes Tribunal and served with distinction on that body for eight years.

“Tim’s work in sport and sports law is known and recognised internationally; and we very much welcome his appointment for our Pacific Games this year” said Mr Minogue.

Photo Caption: Chairman of the Disputes Tribunal for the 2011 Pacific Games, Tim Castle.