Teamwork Behind the Turf: Meet Our Committee

At the Manurewa Eagles American Football Club, greatness isn’t just achieved on the gridiron—it’s built from the front office to the sidelines. Our committee is the ultimate offensive line, blocking the obstacles, creating the openings, and executing the playbook required to keep this club flying high. Composed of dedicated volunteers, passionate sports advocates, and proud community leaders, this team works tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure our players, coaches, and supporters have everything they need to succeed. From managing game-day logistics to fostering a tight-knit whānau atmosphere, we are fully committed to driving the Eagles forward, touchdown by touchdown.

The playmakers: our committee members

kennedy (Ken) faimanifo - chairman

"Leading the huddle and setting the vision for the Eagles' future."
Think of Ken as the head coach of our off-field operations. Driven by a deep love for our community and a passion for gridiron, he pours his heart into steering our club's long-term vision. Whether he is presiding over executive boards, building relationships with regional sporting bodies, or making the tough executive decisions, Ken is always working to ensure we stay true to our core values of family, sportsmanship, and excellence. He is here to inspire leadership across the committee, keep us accountable, and ensure the entire Eagles whānau continues to soar.

Totu (Dots) rivaia - deputy chairman

"The backup quarterback and strategic partner ensuring every play is executed flawlessly."
Working side by side with the Chairman, Dots is our ultimate strategic partner and a vital leader wihin the club. He takes a hands-on approach to overseeing our internal sub-committees and bridging communication gaps across the entire organisation, making sure everyone feels heard. Dots keeps our long-term projects on schedule and steps in seamlessly to guide executive operations whenever duty calls, bringing a reassuring sense of continuity and passion to our administration.

Antoinette (ants) teo - secretary

"The mastermind behind the playbook, keeping our operations organised."
Ants is the heartbeat of our day-to-day operations, keeping the club organised, compliant, and running with absolute precision. As the central hub for all our communication, she is the friendly face and voice managing official correspondance, taking care of meeting details, and guiding families through player registrations. From tackling database systems to ensuring we meet every official regulation, Ants is the vital anchor who makes sure everything off the turf is running beautifully.

Isa'ako (rhino) isa'ako - treasurer

"Managing the salary cap and securing our financial goalposts."
Rhino looks after the financial health of our club with incredible care and dedication, ensuring our long-term stability and growth. They treat the club's budget with absolute respect—carefully managing fees, incoming sponsorships, and outgoing expenses while providing clear, honest reporting to the board. By making sure every single dollar is invested wisely back into upgrading equipment, improving facilities, and funding community programs, Rhino is securing a bright future for all our teams and members.

teagan (teagz) maihi - committee member

"Championing our athletes and keeping our teams aligned for victory."
Bringing an incredible balance of advocacy and organisation to the club, Teagan proudly wears two very important helmets. As our women's welfare representative, she is a fierce champion for the needs, safety, and empowerment of our female athletes, ensuring they have the equitable environment they deserve to thrive. On the sidelines, she shifts into the ultimate organiser as a team manager—handling schedules, rosters, and match-day communications so our players can tune out the noise and focus purely on the win.

Hedi kafoa - committee member

"Building team chemistry and ensuring our players are supported on and off the turf."
Hedi serves as the heartbeat of our off-field environment, dedicating himself entirely to the mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing of the men in our club. He believes that a great athlete starts with a supported individual, so he works hard to create and inclusive, respectful space where every player knows they have a voice. From organising team-bonding initiatives, to being a trusted confidant for one-on-one check-ins, Hedi builds the deep, supportive bonds that keep our club culture as resilient and unified as our defense.

Louis (iki) ikitoelagi - committee member

"Setting the stage and securing the gear so we are always ready for battle."
Iki is the dedicated guardian of our club's safety, treating every piece of gear with the absolute highest level of care and respect. He understands that when our players step onto the turf, their equipment is armor, which is why Iki pours countless hours into meticulously managing, cleaning, and inspecting our entire inventory. From a flawless helmet certification to ensuring every set of shoulder pads is fitted perfectly and structurally sound, he leaves absolutely zero room for error. Iki takes immense pride in maintaining our gear to elite standards, working tirelessly behind the scenes so that every player in our whānau can compete with total confidence, knowing they are fully protected.

brett (double b) bailey - committee member

"The ultimate utility player, fueling our operations and rallying the community."
Brett is a dynamic, high-energy force who steps up wherever the club needs them most to keep us moving forward. On fast-paced match days, they take charge of tracking and allocating our technical equipment so nothing is lost in the chaos. Beyond the sidelines, Brett is the creative mind spearheading the fundraising inititatives and sponsorship drives that allow us to upgrade our gear. Most importantly, he acts as the primary support system for our incredible network of volunteers, making sure our crew feels deeply apprecited and motivated every single week.

It takes a village to fly high

Behind every touchdown, every clean tackle, and every match-day smile is a tireless team working long before the first whistle blows and long after the lights on the turf go out. Our committee doesn't just manage a club; they champion a community.

But a great offensive line is nothing without the rest of the squad. The Manurewa Eagles American Football Club MANATŌPŪ is built on the passion of our players, the dedication of our families, and the incredible energy of our volunteers. Whether you want to lace up your boots, help out on game days, or support us from the sidelines, there is always a place for you in our huddle.

Let’s keep building, growing, and soaring together. Go Eagles!