Vendor wants to become future Manu

By Ilia L Likou 28 June 2016, 12:00AM

While fans celebrated Manu Samoa’s maiden victory for 2016, young Jay was at the Apia Park for a different reason. 

As his daily routine, the eleven-year-old was there to provide for his family.

“My mother told me to come here at Apia Park to sell these stickers to buy us food tomorrow (Sunday),” Jay said. “I was in town the whole day today trying to sell these stickers but no one wanted to buy from me. So I found my way inside the park and its pretty good. I’ve only got two stickers left and they $2.50.”

Jay is from Leone. He said he attends Falefitu Primary School.

“We never have enough money and food… most of the time,” he said.  “This is my everyday life since I was five… I don’t go to school because my mother and father told me not to… because we don’t have enough money.

“My mother gave me stickers to sell today. Some people chased me away but I have to be persistent because I have to make some money.”

Asked where he got the goodies from, he said: “I am not so sure where my mother bought this stuff from. All I am doing now is to sell these stickers before dark so I can give the money to my mother.”

Jay said his father is a carpenter but he has not been able to work because he is sick.

Asked what he wanted to become in the future, Jay told the Samoa Observer he wants to become a rugby player. “I didn’t have much time today to watch the game because I was too busy selling these stickers to many of the spectators at the other side,” he said. “But I want to be a future halfback of the Manu Samoa…I can do it.”

By Ilia L Likou 28 June 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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