Samoan Football

Paul Ualesi led the team to the same stage in 2015, defeating the likes of Puaikura, Lotoha'apai United and SKBC along the way.

Lupe Ole Soaga missed out on Champions League play altogether last year, with the Kiwi club representing Samoa, and also making the group stage.

However Ualesi spent 2016 building on his coaching skills and taking the Samoa Under 20 team under his wing.

He said it had made him a good coach.

Coach Paul Ualesi remains at the helm, and having added Samoa U-20 head coach to his CV in the meantime, he said he feels more than qualified to help take the squad through to the Group Stage for a second time.

Ualesi led the Samoan club champions during their 2015 debut and after defeating all three contenders in front of a home crowd during the qualifier, Lupe Ole Soaga continued that momentum in Fiji.