Williams took his training squad to New Zealand last month for a 10-day camp at the OFC Academy at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland and has now formally confirmed the 23 players he will take to Samoa.
Tonga will face American Samoa, Cook Islands and Samoa at the event, the winner of which will qualify for the OFC Nations Cup, to be held in Fiji in June. The preliminary stage is the first step for each of the sides on the path to qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™.
Cook Islands and American Samoa have a slight advantage going into the tournament as they have recent experience of international action after competing at the XIV Pacific Games in New Caledonia during August and September.
The Tonga Football Association opted not to send a men’s team to the event and instead used the trip to New Zealand as the squad’s preparation.
Williams is pleased with the progress made in Auckland and is looking forward to testing his team against its three opponents in Samoa.
“It’s certainly exciting to know what lies in wait for us if we are successful in stage one,” he says.
“It will be a fantastic experience for our players and we’ll be doing everything in our power to ensure we can cause a few upsets in Samoa and earn the privilege of playing on in the second stage in June.”
Tonga will approach the preliminary stage in confident mood after notching a pair of positive results in Auckland. Williams’ side was pitted against teams from local clubs Eastern Suburbs and Albany United and acquitted itself well, posting a draw and a win respectively.
But Williams is aware the likes of Cook Islands and Samoa are more heavily favoured to take out the tournament and knows his players must be at their best to earn a place at the Nations Cup.
If they can spring an upset and qualify for Fiji, they will then take on the top seven sides in Oceania, namely Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tahiti and Vanuatu.
To ensure the side stands a good chance of getting there, Williams will bring his players into camp later this month before heading to Fiji for a friendly match on November 15 en route to Samoa.
Tonga squad for OFC Nations Cup Preliminary Stage
Goalkeepers
Heneli Saafi
Kaneti Felela
Soane Faupula
Defenders
Folio Moeaki
Samisoni Mafi
Alekisanita Fehoko
Ilalio Leakona
Sione Teu
Petesa Ongosia
Midfielders
Pio Palu
Sione Tovo Uele
Peni Pau
Siosifa Moimoi
Timote Maamaloa
Lafaele Moala
Fineasi Palei
Ateneo Fe’ao
Strikers
Viliami Vaitaki
Vitolio Latu
Malakai Savieti
Kinitoni Falatau
Lokoua Taufahema
Staff
Coach: Chris Williams
Assistant coaches: Taniela Fonua and Timote Moleni
Technical advisor: Kilifi Uele
Head of delegation: Fetu’u Vea
For more news and information on Tonga football go to www.tongafootball.to

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