The team departs the territory on Saturday, however they do so with heavy hearts following the passing of U-17 head coach Junior Mikaele’s wife, Amanda.
“Our hearts and condolences go out to our team’s coach for the loss of his wife,” FFAS president Iuli Alex Godinet says.
“We have told him that he and his family are in our thoughts and prayers.”
Mikaele has been training the final squad of 17 players for the last three months, with the advice of FFAS technical director Ruben Luvu and assistance from Uinifareti Aliva and Tala Fa’alava’au.
At this time Mikaele may not travel with the team to Samoa for the tournament.
“First of all I want to thank the president and the executive committee, CEO Tavita Taumua and the FFAS staff as well as my players for all their kind words and thoughts for me and my family,” Mikaele says.
“If I do not travel with the team they know that I am with them in heart and spirit and will be proud of them no matter what the result they bring back home is.”
Mikaele says he, Luvu and assistant coaches Aliva and Fa’alava’au have full confidence in the squad they’ve chosen and expect them to put forward a strong challenge.
The winner of the OFC U-17 Championship Preliminary will go on to the second stage set for Vanuatu in April against the region’s top tiered teams — New Zealand, Tahiti, New Caledonia, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and hosts, Vanuatu.
That tournament also serves as the Oceania qualifier for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2013 scheduled for October in the United Arab Emirates.
American Samoa’s first opponent will be against their brothers from Samoa, followed by the Cook Islands and then Tonga.
“In these last few days before we leave we’re just ironing out a few things such as our formation and we will also use the time to select our captain and vice-captain,” Luvu says.
Three of 17 players in the final squad already have international experience at the U-17 level – Ne’emia Kaleopa, Kaleopa Siligi and Ruben Luvu Jr – who represented American Samoa at this age group two years ago in New Zealand.
Team manager Henry Lameta was a part of the U-23 squad that competed in the OFC Olympic qualifiers in Taupo in 2012.
“There are some experienced players on our team and we look at them to set the tone for us during the competition,” Taumua says.
For more on American Samoa football go to www.ffas.as

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