To’o fights for 'justice'

Manu Samoa great, Aumua To’o Vaega, has revisited the Samoa Rugby Union’s (S.R.U) past by demanding that the new crop of administrators be transparent and accountable.

He has also called on the Chairman and Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, to lead by example and show that the Union is accountable to its stakeholders.

“I want justice for my people of Samoa,” he said.

“People who didn't hesitate to put their hands into their pockets and donate money to the Manu Samoa fundraising.”

The former Manu Samoa midfielder, who was part of the history-making team of 1991, has also asked for an independent investigation into claims of abuse that surfaced following the Rugby World Cup of 2011.

“The Samoa Rugby Union needs to be honest,” he told the Sunday Samoan. “They need to be accountable and show some humility and respect – that is the fa'a Samoa way.”

Aumua acknowledged that the recent changes – including the appointment of the new Chief Executive Officer, Faleomavaega Vincent Fepulea’i – are positive developments.

But he is of the firm belief that unless the past is dealt with, the Union will struggle to move forward.

“I have a heart for Samoan rugby and this is why I’m speaking up,” he said.

“The Samoa Rugby Union needs good honest people to administer rugby for our country – not people who are in there for themselves.

“We've seen many influential people in the Samoa Rugby Union come and go, yet the

problem is still there. “What I want is a full investigation into the operations of the Samoa Rugby Union from the day it took over the administration of Manu Samoa from Sir Michael Fay's Manu Samoa Limited.”

The questions and claims from Aumua come at a time when the S.R.U looks to have turned a new leaf, regaining some of the support it had lost over the years.

Although the Union lost $1.5million in hosting the All Blacks recently, members of the public who have continued to back the Manu Samoa in difficult times are slowly getting behind their team ahead of September’s Rugby World Cup in the United Kingdom.

For Aumua, he said he will always be a supporter of Manu Samoa.

But he said the events of the 2011 World Cup must be ironed out. He wants the Union to be more accountable to the people of Samoa. He also raised concerns about some key appointments at the Union, the selection of coaches and management teams, issues about players’ payments and insurance and a lot more.

“The Samoa Rugby Union (accounts for 2011 after the Rugby World Cup) were audited and yet there has been no action taken about the report. Why is that?

“Rugby has gone professional yet there are those in the Samoa Rugby Union who aren't professional in their duties.

“We can't afford to have the people's concerns swept under the carpet. We need answers, people have the right to know; it's my right to ask questions. These issues won't go away just because they think they know it all.

I don't care if they take me to Court over this. Actually, I want them to do that so everything can be out in the open. Samoa is well-known around the world for its rugby.

“Our forefathers built Samoa on respect and honesty and that's what I want from the Samoa Rugby Union.”

The Audit report in question, which was at the heart of previous and the recent Manu Samoa players’ revolt, identified weaknesses and the lack of internal controls in the handling of finances – among other management issues - at the Union.

The Audit, prepared by Lesa ma Penn Certified Public Accountants, is highly critical of the Union’s failure to address a number of accounting problems.

In a letter to the Chairman of the S.R.U.’s Executive Committee dated 6 January 2012, the Auditors wrote: “We have noted that some of the issues addressed in this report were previously reported to the Board and Management in our management letters dated 18 February 2010, and 26 August 2011.

“Through the audit work performed, there was no indication that an effort was made to rectify these issues.

“We would appreciate if management, and the Board, would take a more proactive and responsive role in taking actions to rectify and resolve issues which have been identified and reported.”

Among the issues highlighted were:

• Absence of a fixed assets register, • No formal system to capture all sponsorships received in kind;

• No segregation of duties regarding the process of receiving and recording revenue;

• Significant delays in banking cash; • Absence of supporting documentation for vouchers.

The problems were quite apparent when the Auditors delved into the money raised to send the team to the Rugby World Cup in 2011. The Fundraising collected millions from members of the public and the business community. The issue was questioned by senior Manu Samoa players immediately after the Rugby World Cup in 2011. These questions also resurfaced last year when the players threatened to boycott the England game at Twickenham.

According to the Audit, one of the biggest problems in accounting for the money was the “missing receipt books.”

“During the audit fieldwork, management were unable to provide the following receipt books - a. Office receipt book from January 2011 to June 2011 b.

Eight radiothon receipt books - Receipt book #29 - Receipt book #40 - Receipt book #41 - Receipt book #49 - Receipt book #67 - Receipt book #69 - Receipt book #74 - Receipt book #91.”

For Aumua, this is the sort of issue he wants resolved. He wants to know where these receipts went and whether the money was used appropriately.

“I want justice for my people of Samoa,” he said. “People who didn't hesitate to put their hands into their pockets and donate money to the Manu Samoa fund-raising.”

Aumua said his heart goes out to the people of Samoa because he knows how passionate and genuine they are about rugby.

“I can't afford not to say anything about the Samoa Rugby Union's affairs,” he said.

“They have to step up – they have to be honest. People asked about Samoa after the 1991 Rugby World Cup when Samoa became well-known. I want the current players to experience that same feeling again.

“Look at what is happening to F.I.F.A? It is the biggest sporting body in the world and there is corruption at the highest level.

“Other countries have bigger rugby unions. Samoa is only a small rugby union and there shouldn't be any problems but here we are in a professional era with so many problems.

“Why is that? Why are our problems not fixed? That is what I want to know – that is what everyone wants to know.”

It was not possible to get a comment from the Samoa Rugby Union immediately.

Last year, the Pacific's representative at World Rugby, Lefau Harry Schuster, disputed the content of the 2011 Audit.

Lefau told the Samoa Observer that he denies all allegations in the audit report, and denies any wrongdoing. Lefau said everything was done above board and no money was misspent.