Unlike many of their regional counterparts whose current focus is on next month’s Pacific Games and OFC Olympic Qualifiers, Samoa is looking even further into the future.
The side is currently in camp in New Zealand and will play their first international friendly of this campaign against NRFL Premier League club Central United this evening, Monday 16 June.
“We’ve been training for six months with these U-23 players, we have 16 local players and I’m still receiving emails and contact from overseas players in New Zealand and Australia,” Young says.
With the associated costs of sending two squads to the Pacific Games, as well as looking ahead to the World Cup qualifying campaign, the FFS Executive Committee decided not to send a men’s team to Port Moresby 2015 and have instead diverted attention to the senior men’s team.
“Our Executive Committee decided it was best for us to step down from U-23 and concentrate on the World Cup Qualifiers in Tonga.
“Fourteen of the players involved in that U-23 build-up are here on the tour, and I’ve included seven from the senior men’s team who have played the last three years for Samoa.”
Young says coming to New Zealand allows the staff to make contact with some of the players based here who expressed interest in representing Samoa.
“It’s like a trial, we will be selecting the players next week when we get back home. Firstly we will select the local players and then we will add the players from here in New Zealand.
“What we will propose to add benefit to our preparation is to meet up with the players here and have a camp for two days before arriving in Tonga a week early.”
The match against Central United will take place at the Croatian Club in Auckland, New Zealand with kick-off scheduled for 7.15pm.
For more on Samoa football go to www.footballsamoa.ws .

Share