After trouncing Italy on the weekend, the Manu Samoa players were given another win a little closer to home - artwork painted in their honour.
For six weeks Senese Inclusive Education students laboured away on a projected ‘Legends Inspire – Our Manu, Our Tribute’ on the walls of the High Performance Unit (H.P.U), which culminated in the artists getting to meet their heroes in person.
Four deaf students have worked alongside Senese’s graphic designer Donna Repeka Kamu, who is the project coordinator, and several other volunteers to complete the first part of this project.
“It’s amazing for these students because they’ve never done anything like this before,” Ms. Kamu said.
“It definitely shocked the Manu boys, they were blown away by all the artwork.”
Manu Samoa player Kahn Fotuali’i said all the boys really appreciated the artwork that has been done for them.
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“I hadn’t been back since the project started, and when I saw the artwork I didn’t realise the deaf students had painted it,” he said. “It definitely gave me more appreciation of how talented they are.
“Manu is the country’s team, and we love getting everyone involved.”
The appreciation was definitely shown on both sides. One of the four students involved in the project, Vitaliano Lui, said “the excitement was when we got free tickets to the game on Saturday,” translated by sign language interpreter Helen Tui.
Officer in charge at Senese, Mr Mahendra Mahimkar, sees the project as a way for students with disabilities to showcase their talent, and give back to the country’s team, Manu Samoa.
The project is a collaboration between Senese, Samoa Rugby Union (S.R.U) and the H.P.U.
H.P.U. General Manager, Mathew Vaea, said that six key training values have been painted on to the six pillars inside the gym.
The values that have been painted are mental skills, nutrition, physical, tactical, technical and holistic.
There is a seventh value, being the spirit, but project volunteer Salainaoloa Tuimavave explained that the beams joining each pillar on the ceiling represent the spirit occupying the entire room.
Ms. Kamu said they focused on using traditional motifs to give it Samoan flavour, and each pillar characterises the person that painted it.
Ms. Kamu and the Senese team are very thankful to Ace Hardware for providing the artists with paint and other project materials.
There are still plenty more walls to be painted inside, and the final stage of the ongoing project will be adding some artwork on the outside of the building too.
There are plans to include inspirational quotes and old icons, including a tribute to the late former Manu captain Peter ‘Fatz’ Fatialofa, volunteer Mr. Tuimavave said.
Student artist Vitaliano Lui said “the determination was there for us when we started, and that is how we have finished so much. “There is more work to be done and I hope the determination stays.
“The project is really awesome.”
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