The Auckland Samoa basketball team is in for the Independence Basketball Tournament, which runs from Monday, 1 June to Thursday, 4 June, bringing young Pacific athletes from New Zealand back to the islands to compete, reconnect with their heritage and experience culture.
The team is the only international side at the tournament, with most players of Samoan heritage visiting Samoa for the first time. The trip is as much about culture and identity as it is about basketball.
The team is part of First Nations Polynesian Basketball, a New Zealand-based organisation focused on creating pathways for Pacific athletes through sport. It was founded by Aiono Sefo and is led by director Juliet Leusogi-Ape.
Aiono said the Independence Games give young athletes a chance to experience their heritage.
“For a lot of these kids, this is their first time in Samoa,” he said.
