U17 Football Team Named

By Sina Filifilia Sevaaetasi 12 January 2017, 12:00AM

Football Federation Samoa has named the final squad for Samoa’s U17 Football team.  

The team listed below will be travelling to Tahiti to compete in the final round of the O.F.C U17 Championship from February 11-24.  

Samoa is pooled with Fiji, Solomon Islands, and New Zealand.  

Samoa’s first opponent will be New Zealand on February 12, then Fiji on February 15 and finally Solomon Islands February 18th. 

The top two teams from this tournament will proceed to the U17 World Cup which will be held in October this year. 

Trials held on Tuesday night at the J.S. Blatter field saw some of the best Samoa has to offer  all vying for a spot on the roster.  Although many showed out, Samoa can only afford to take the best to the championship.  

It’s as if selectors have searched the four corners of the Earth looking to uncover great talent from Samoans near and far. 

The roster features Samoan’s from throughout the Pacific such as Harlen Russell and Darcy Knight who are both of Samoan heritage but based out of New Zealand and Dauntae Mariner originally from Australia. 

The boys are in good hands as they are coached by one of Samoa’s finest, Desmond Fa’aiuaso. 

Fa’aiuaso has an amazing football career, first debuting for Samoa in the qualifier for the World Cup in April 2001.  Since then, Fa’aiuaso has not slowed down one bit.

Fa’aiuaso was also the coach that led the U17 team to victory in the preliminary stages of the tournament in July last year.  

Now fielding an even stronger team, Samoa is set to shine on stage in Tahiti.  

Official Roster: 

Eti Fatu

Kitiona Nauer

Harlen Russell

Sefa Mamea-Hind

Solomon Granger

Stanley Mamea

Willie Sauiluma

Jackson Nautu

Darcy Knight

Falaniko Nanumea

Dauntae Mariner

Talita Hafoka

Lotial Mano

Dilo Tumua

Jefferson Faamatau

Jay Popese

Osa Savelio

Julius Duffy

Elijah Theodor

Jenuem Kepu

 

Head Coach Desmond  Faaiuaso 

Assistant Coach Masato Tsuchiya

Team Manager Sauni Asiata

Technical Advisor Scott Easthope

GK Coach Ricky Slade

Physio Keiya Machida

By Sina Filifilia Sevaaetasi 12 January 2017, 12:00AM
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