The American Samoa squad have made the short 30-minute flight from Pago Pago to Apia and are determined to leave a positive long-lasting impression when they leave.
New coach Ruepeni Luvu is the ASA Technical Director and took the helm of the women’s team following the Pacific Games after Tunua Lui resigned.
Luvu has assembled a 21 strong squad featuring seven American based players and has high hopes that his young team will be competitive in their Group games against Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.
Working as a Technical Director Luvu knows the American Samoa based players well. Because there is currently no Women’s Development Officer at the Association, he has been heavily involved with the women’s football programme.
“We have a good group of young players and one thing we have talked about is to be competitive, and I think this is one of the best teams we have put together in a short period of time,” Luvu said.
“We have a couple of talented young midfield players, Severina Manayo (Ina) and Aaliyah Tu’ua. Look out for them,” Luvu added.
And with American Samoa being in Group A and Samoa in Group B, Luvu is hopeful the locals will turn out and support their ‘cousins’.
“Yeah, because we are in a different group. They are going to support us I think.”
The squad is as follows:
Angela Ah Fook
Veronica Iupati
Destiny Kapisi
Nette Liu
Elcy Lui
Alma Mana’o
Severina Mana’o
Topelei Matoka
Aggie Pati
Gracious Toilolo
Precious Toilolo
Mckayla Tua
Ariana Vaeao
Olivia Vaiomoungaa
Lela Waetin
Tehea Lealofi
Morgan Patea
Susan Godinet
Meleane Naa
Aaliyah Tu’ua
Lillian Felise