Down memory lane

It’s another sunny day at the Marist St. Joseph’s Sports Club in Lotopa.

As celebrations of the club’s 45th anniversary continue, younger members are running around and the beer and soda is flowing.

Vuiumumaluolelagi (Vui) Ricky McFall sits under the shade, a cigarette in one hand and a drink in the other, quietly chatting with some of the club’s other senior members. He has been President of the club six times.

Now retired, he is an Executive member of Marist St. Joseph’s Sports Club. And he was there from the start, as part of the first rugby team formed when the club was created, formed from two other rugby clubs in 1970.

“There were some negatives and positives when they first merged,” Vui recalled. “There was a surplus of players.”

That soon changed, with the club, which originally did not have St. Joseph’s in its name, soon struggling to bring in new recruits. That was because rugby players from St. Joseph’s College were opting to play for village teams instead.

Vui said the club decided to correct course, rebranding to include St. Joseph’s in the name around 1973.

“We started to feel the pain because we were not getting the players,” he said.

Since then, the club has had its ups and downs.

“Some years it is good...it depends on the coach.”

The local side had a good year in 2015, winning the international Marist sevens rugby competition in February, Vui said. The team had built up a strong legacy, winning three quarters of the Marist sevens games held over the past 27 years, he said.

As the club celebrates 45 years of existence, however, it is dealing with some major burdens.

Many talented rugby players are heading overseas now, having picked up international contracts.

“But what can we do, it’s for the player’s benefit,” Vui said.

Current club President Laulu Henry Taefu said rugby had changed drastically over the 35 years he’d been part of the club. It was now a professional game, which had changed the playing field.

Debt was a problem, too. Laulu said the celebrations were a good chance to fundraise, to help the organisation continue paying its bills.

Vui said money was needed to pay for the clubhouse and grandstand, among other things, which was tough due to the club’s limited revenuemaking ability. Even with money problems, everyone was enjoying the chance to catch up with old friends.

Father Ben Tapelu has been part of the club since 1972, and he loved the chance to reminisce about the club’s 45 years in Samoa.

“It’s been a great feeling, being a part of it.”

He said there was a “real closeness” between club members when he joined several decades ago. In 2015, it was still there, with the Marist St. Joseph’s Sports Club brotherhood alive and kicking, he said. Savelu Kapisi came over from New Zealand for the 45th, representing the Marist St. Joseph’s Old Boys group in Auckland.

“It’s nice to meet some of the boys we use to play with.”

He had not seen some of the club members in 20 years.

“I thought they all still look as young as when I saw them before, which is what they told me,” he laughed.

As club members enjoy their trip down memory lane, they are looking to the future of the club.

And they all agree – Marist St. Joseph’s Sports Club is not going anywhere.

Laulu sees sporting diversification as the future.

While the club caters for rugby union, rugby league, netball and golf, he wants it doing more to keep up with the times.

Boxing and soccer were the next big things for the club, which would help it thrive.

Vui said he could see the club making it to 90 years old.

“I think the club will still be there provided we work hard towards maintaining the operation of the club [and] the lease of the land because this land is owned by the Marist brothers. As long as [club] members are committed, we will survive the next 45 years.”