Lakapi Samoa announces partnership with Yazaki Kizuna Foundation

APIA, SAMOA – 26 FEBRUARY 2022: Lakapi Samoa has announced its partnership with Yazaki Kizuna Foundation as the official sponsor of the Lakapi Samoa High Performance Academy for the year 2021 to 2023.

The Yazaki Kizuna Foundation is a non-profit general incorporated foundation existing under the laws of Japan that was established by Yazaki Corporation in 2018.

Lakapi Samoa believes that its Academy Programme is in line with the purpose that Yazaki Kizuna Foundation that provides grants to principally non-profit organizations that contribute to creation of job opportunities and economic activities in Samoa.

Together, Lakapi Samoa and Yazaki Kizuna Foundation are looking forward to this mutually beneficial partnership, which brings with it a fantastic opportunity to strengthen Lakapi Samoa’s High Performance Academy.

The Academy provides local rugby players with a high performance environment throughout the year in order to progressively move into the professional level of rugby.

With increased growth and interest globally in rugby, the demand for rugby highly skilled rugby players is increasing and Lakapi Samoa’s High Performance is looking at taking this opportunity and providing local rugby players with the resources and training in order to qualify for professional rugby contracts overseas at prestigious rugby clubs / franchises that can provide our rugby players with a well-paying rugby career in a high performance rugby environment.

“To compete with bigger and better resourced Unions, the partnership with Yazaki Kizuna Foundation will assist Lakapi Samoa immensely in our high performance programme in preparing future international players,” said Faleomavaega Vincent Fepuleai, CEO Lakapi Samoa.

“We are delighted and grateful to Yazaki Kizuna Foundation in partnering and appreciative our vision for the future.”

Ms Michiyo Hamada is the President of Yazaki Kizuna Foundation.

“We are delighted to be partnering with Lakapi Samoa. We hope that our grants will help young Samoan rugby players realize their dreams for the future,” she said.

“When their dreams come true, the purpose of Yazaki Kizuna Foundation’s grants on the academy programme to contribute to the development of human resources and the expansion of job opportunities in Samoa will also be achieved.”

The Yazaki Kizuna Foundation was represented by Funefe’ai Oliva Vaai at the announcement of the partnership at Lakapi Samoa’s headquarters, Tuana’imato, last Friday.

The Foundation also donated 2x Hiace Vans as part of the partnership agreement and the President of Lakapi Samoa, Namulau’ulu Sami Leota braved the rain to cut the ribbon and accept the donation.

President of Lakapi Samoa, Namulauulu Sami Leota handing a jersey to the representative of Yazaki Kizuna Foundation, Funefe’ai Oliva Vaai as members of the Board and Management look on.