MANU RUN: Paul VI College students race with the Manu Samoa motorcade at Leulumoega Tuai

By Tupuola Terry Tavita

The country came alive this morning as Manu Samoa made its farewell parade, veering through Beach Road, making a beeline around the Moataa-Vaivase area before heading to Faleolo Airport this morning.

Normally a less-than-an-hour’s-drive dragged into a three-hour street party ride. School students were out in force, some jumping on the beds or on the bonnets of pick-ups carrying Manu Samoa players.

At the Samoa College-NUS stretch, the 60-plus vehicle motorcade – at times – came to a standstill as students were virtually hanging off the Manu Samoa pick-ups and jeeps.

Some people just jumped in their cars – or turned around – to follow the team to the airport.

The air was filled honking horns, loud cheers or just “Go Manu!!�?

It was chaotic fun, never seen in Samoa before.There were some with painted faces and some, with painted thighs, showing where the support lies.

Our favourite banners were “Paint New Zealand black�?, “Manu, those are your lungs�? and just “Bring the Cup home�?.There should be no lingering doubt among the team and management that they have the complete support of Samoa’s 180,000 population.At Faleolo, the team was greeted by over 200 cheering fans who lined both sides of the road at the Arrival area. It has been reported that around 10,000 Samoans will be at Auckland airport to receive the team when they arrive.

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