Mifi, as he was known, loved sports and was an avid football player. He took up the game at Uifa’atali Peter Coleman Elementary and kept it up when he entered Samoana High School.
The 16-year-old played his club football for Pago Youth and had been selected for the national training squad preparing for the OFC U-17 Championship, set to be held in Auckland during January.
Tualaulelei hails from a very athletic family – both of his parents have played a range of sports for their village teams while his brothers are also excellent sportsmen.
According to a Talanei.com (KHJ Radio News) report, he tumbled from the truck on October 28 and was “admitted in a comatose state the next morning, after his parents were unable to wake him up”.
He was buried on November 19 at his home in Pago Pago.
Representatives from the Football Federation of American Samoa (FFAS) attended the service and the federation also sent a wreath to the family to honour his memory.
“On behalf of FFAS, we all send our deepest condolences to the parents of Mifi, Ailao Sr. and Frieda Tualaulelei and, of course, all of his brothers and family,” FFAS CEO Tavita Taumua says.
“It is a sad day when parents have to put to rest a child of theirs, especially at such a young age and we all feel their pain.
“Mifi, for a 16-year-old, was big, strong and very adept with a soccer ball. He used to come over to my house and hang out there because he was very good friends with my son Michael.
“I am very sad at his passing and have passed on my condolences to the family. We are also very sad to see a player of his calibre pass on before he could fulfill his potential.”