Half of the players have international experience while the other half will be making their debuts for their country in Taupo, where the tournament will be held from March 16 to 24.
Of the experienced crop, most were part of the senior national squad that wrote themselves into the record books at the Stage 1 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers last November in Samoa, helping the tiny island nation record its first ever FIFA-sanctioned win under the guidance of coach Thomas Rongen.
The Dutchman led American Samoa to that memorable 2-1 triumph over Tonga – which made headlines across the footballing world – and very nearly took them to the second stage of the qualification process, only being denied by a narrow 1-0 loss to champions Samoa.
The inspirational Rongen has now moved on to take up a youth development role with MLS outfit Toronto, leaving Luvu to take up the reins of the U-23 side. He has plenty of experience at international level after leading American Samoa through a handful of OFC youth tournaments but little was expected of his charges on those occasions and the stakes are now somewhat higher after the senior side’s eye-catching performances.
“We are relying heavily on these experienced players to lead the team to some good results in Taupo,” says Football Federation American Samoa president Iuli Alex Godinet, who recently travelled to Tonga for the OFC Women’s Olympic Qualifier.
The most significant of the World Cup-qualifying contingent are defender JR Amisone, the skipper of the national side, and Shalom Luani, who has been listed as a defender but judging by his feats in Samoa is likely to play up front. Teenager Luani, also a talented American football player, became a hero in his homeland by scoring the all-important second goal against Tonga in that famous win and was on target again in the 1-1 tie against Cook Islands.
American Samoa have been drawn in the four-team Group A for the Olympic qualifers and will face Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
American Samoa squad for Olympic qualifiers
Goalkeepers
Satila TUPUA
Tevita TALIAOLI
Defenders
Shalom LUANI
Tala LUVU
Daru TAUMUA
JR Lia AMISONE
Michael TAUMUA
Tafa IOAPO
Andrew MALOA
Midfielders
Kidd BARTLEY
Suani UELESE
Casper KURESA
Misi TUITAMAI
Aliva AFELE
Henry LAMETA
Meafou KALEOPA
Forwards
Ryan PETAIA
Ailao TUALAULELEI
Roy LUANI
Mike UNASA
For more on American Samoa football go to www.ffas.as

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