Samoan community takes Tua revelations to heart

By NATASHA HARRIS

The Samoan community in Auckland is up in arms over David Tua's treatment by his managers.

Feelings have run high since the Weekend Herald revealed that the boxer has almost no assets to his name and has accused managers Kevin Barry and Martin Pugh of cheating him of $4 million.

Papalii Peter Taouma, a community elder, said people were "very distressed and disappointed" that the trust between the managers and Tua had been broken.

He explained that Samoans had a strong sense of family, and when Kevin Barry was taken in as Tua's "brother", trust had been placed in him.

Dr Melani Anae, director of University of Auckland's Pacific Studies centre, said Tua was revered because of his "high respect" for his countrymen.

"Samoans really respect him, as he always wears Samoan clothes at matches and he will always say something in Samoan ... this news is a very sad thing to happen."

Reverend Mua Strickson-Pua, a well-known minister in Auckland City, said parishioners had been "absolutely devastated" and shocked by the news.

"They really like Kevin Barry, so this latest revelation has just really stunned the Samoan community ... here you have a classic example of an innocent person who trusted people."

Meanwhile, Samoan talkback radio in Auckland has had a strong response from callers furious over the way Tua was reportedly treated by Pugh and Barry.

On Radio Samoa's Monday sports show, host Filipo Saena said people were "very, very angry", as Tua was thought of as "right up there".

"He's been mucked round and people can feel it so they want to support him.

"People are very hurt, angry and disappointed and they care a lot about what he's been through," Mr Saena said.

Talkback radio in Samoa has also heard similar views of disappointment, but SBC Radio 1's breakfast host, Eddie Tautaualapini, said conservative Samoans wanted to hear the real story from Tua before commenting.

"However, the general feeling is that everyone feels sorry for Tua and are really shocked, so as a result of hearing such shocking news, people don't want to talk about it.

"A couple of callers were very disappointed with Barry and Pugh for the way they handled the situation - the feeling I've got is that people feel the trust Tua placed on Barry has gone down the drain."