They had just lost 1-0 follwing a goal in additional time at the Oceania Football Confederation’s Stage 1 qualification tournament involving Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands and American Samoa.
“I still remember that day and that game like it just happened yesterday,” recalled Football Federation American Samoa President Faiivae Iuli Alex Godinet.
“Our players took it hard, they kept their heads up and still remember but the memory still hurts.”
For then assistant coach Larry Mana’o, it was a tough defeat to swallow.
“That was a tough loss but the team has moved on and we are all looking forward to this tournament,” said Mana’o, who has stepped up to the role of head coach for the 2015 campaign.
“This team is very different from 2011. Four years ago that team was strong but quiet. This team, they are very strong and loud.
“They’re calling out to each other on the field, talking and helping one another out by being vocal,” Mana’o said.
Goalkeeper Nicky Salapu has been on the recieving end of some hefty defeats, but after the last campaign he’s back and ready to give his all.
“We are looking forward to this tournament. It was a learning experience to try a little bit harder,” said Salapu.
“For this tournament coming up, all I’m thinking about is to play the best and to do anything to help the team win this tournament and motivate the younger players as well.”
Now, four years later, it’s the same countries involved but with different looks. Gone is the former USA U-20 coach and miracle worker for that American Samoa squad, Thomas Rongen.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Qualifiers – OFC Stage 1 takes place in Tonga from August 31 to September 4 with American Samoa featuring a different coach and a new infusion of un-blooded players.
The 2011 team made history by earning their first win in a FIFA international match. Their exploits from that tournament were captured in the documentary, “Next Goal Wins!” One of the biggest stars that emerged from that was John ‘Jaiyah’ Saelua, considered the first transgender to play in a FIFA match.
Saelua and the majority of that team’s makeup are not back for this edition, but six players, five of them starters — Nicky Salapu, Rawlston Masaniai, Uasila’a Heleta, Justin Mana’o and Ramin Ott and Casper Kuresa – are making their return.
Twenty players have been selected to represent American Samoa this time around and will carry the hopes and dreams of many former players for the territory as well as the local football association’s clubs, members and staff.
They left for Tonga on Sunday, August 23 with four big games on their schedule. Before even a second of the OFC Stage 1 qualifiers begins, they face off against another giant of the Oceania region, Fiji.
“We will be playing Fiji at 7pm on August 27 in an international friendly at Prince Charles Park in Nadi, Fiji,” said FFAS CEO and team manager, Tavita Taumua.
It is the side’s only warm up game before opening the OFC Stage 1 tournament against Samoa on August 31 at 3.30 pm
The national team arrived in American Samoa on Aug. 21 from Seattle, Washington where they had been training since late July. They started camping together in mid-August. A good number of the players are based in the USA and locally-based players had been training at the FFAS field since March.
In July, five of the eight local players flew out to Seattle, WA to start training with the rest of the squad. Taumua and Mana’o helped coordinate the training in Seattle.
“It was very tough because of the distances we had to travel and having to train on different fields all the time,” Taumua said.
“But it was a great learning experience for all.”
American Samoa teamlist:
Goalkeepers
Pita Falevalu
Nicky Salapu
Defenders
Casper Kuresa
Ne’emia Kaleopa
Paul Collins
Ramin Ott
Rawlston Masaniai
Ryan Samuelu
Uasila’a Heleta
Midfielders
Justin Mana’o
Tor-Lawrence Mana’o
Dylan Hardie-Jordan
Jason Sii
Jordan Grantz
Kaleopa Siligi
Panweichi Kaleopa
Sam Kome
Forwards
Demetrius Beauchamp
Raphael Rocha
Ali’i Mitchell
Coach: Larry Mana’o
For more on American Samoa football visit www.ffas.as

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