Football Federation Samoa will be hosting the OFC U 17 Championships Preliminary round this week and Samoa is aiming for a top finish to qualify for the cup this year.
Team Samoa was named today with two of its players from Savai’i and four from Australia and New Zealand.
However, things have not been so smooth for FFS with their preparations for the big tournament.
Development officer Martin Tamasese says the team has been struggling to get a solid good day at practice.
“Usually, we’d have a good two to three hours with the boys, but that was when school ended at two in the afternoon. Now it ends at four, and we barely have good daylight time to work on our combos, our fitness, and basically a good team bonding,” he said.
Despite the challenge, Tamasese says he’s confident of how the newly appointed young coach for the team has handled the circumstances.
Desmond Fa’aiuaso, who is a current national team player, is coaching the young team and he says while his expertise at the game has helped him a lot, he knew that teaching a national team is not as hard as handling a group of teenagers.
“It’s a big step for me, to teach and coach a new team, teaching them the basics, even when they were pushed from when they were young to play soccer. You know they haven’t matured enough yet, so they need to be watched over always. But in terms of the game they are set to go,” he said.
The team for Samoa is as follows:
Eti Fatu
Kitiona Nauer
Sefa Mamea-Hind
Stanley Mamea
Stanley Selemaia
Osa Savelio
Willie Sauiluma
Jackson Nautu
Lotial Mano
Jeneum Kepu
Dilo Tumua
Julius Duffy
Richard Epa
Falaniko Nanumea
Paul Felisi
Jeffersson Faamatau
Jeffrey Leiataua
Uilisone Galu
Talita Hafoka