Samoa's Women's Football Team Surges Ahead in Olympic Qualifier

Samoa comes alive with the sound of soccer as women kick the goals that matter in the Women's Olympic Football Tournament-Oceania Qualifier in Samoa this week!

The tournament features eight teams competing for an Olympic spot with competing teams include New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga, American Samoa, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Samoa.

The competition winner will represent Oceania at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Samoa’s squad is dominated by international players with Samoan heritage coming from Utah, California, Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii.

As the only local player selected to represent her home nation, Repeka Asofa hopes that more local players will be selected for future sporting events.

“I feel blessed that God has gifted me with this talent so I can represent my people in this tournament,” she said.

However, she added that it wasn’t easy to get a spot on the team.

For the 23-year-old from Savaii, her family has been financially supported by her passion for football over the years.

The host nation was committed to making families and friends proud as they won their first game against Vanuatu 1-0.

Samoa’s head coach, Juan Chang Urrea says their first win was crucial to their team’s advancement in the tournament.

“Every game is going to be important and crucial but of course, it's good to start with a win, especially at home,” he said.

During their match, Samoa continued to advance and generate chances, but frequently shot long-range shots over the crossbar.

Leah Manuleleua scored a crucial penalty goal for her team with seconds left after Vanuatu’s Limas Erikan took out substitute Sariah Taeaoalii.

“Coming down to the last minute, we understand it could have been anyone’s game,” said Urrea.

“And Vanuatu is a strong team as you can see, very experienced, very physical so again, they created so many chances. We also created chances; it just came down to the detail.

“But we like to celebrate for a couple of minutes and move on because this tournament is really short.”

Despite losing to Samoa, Vanuatu’s Captain, Elmah Aiviji said that she was proud of her team’s performance.

“Samoa came after this..the game was competitive, Samoa was the good side and we also did our best but unfortunately the luck was on their side,” she said.

“Most of our girls are really young players…but we did our best.”

Speaking before their match against New Zealand, coach Urreah said they will focus on their game plan instead of their opposition.

“Yes, we understand they [New Zealand] have been the champions, we don’t really focus on that. It's just about us and to see how we can inspire the people that come and watch us, that’s our goal.

“The results will come if we do the little things first.”

Samoa's victory phase was short-lived as New Zealand, the defending champions, secured an O-6 point lead.

“We came here to compete and qualify for the Olympic games,” says New Zealand coach Jitka Klimkova.

“We are ready to win the game and win the title.”

Coach Klimkova's team is highly anticipated to qualify for their fifth Olympic Games, with a strong squad ready to defend their title.

“We know the conditions in Samoa are very specific, very hot and humid and we know we will expect [that] with our game,” she said.

She also shared how much it meant for her team to be the Oceania Qualifier.

“All the steps we are doing in Samoa are towards it [Olympic spot]. For us and the players specifically, it is so important to have this great moment when they can represent their country on a big stage, I know for many of them the Olympics is a very touching [moment], and they love it.

“We want to be part of it. We are focusing mainly on us if we put ourselves in this kind of pressure that might not help.

“We want to control what we can control and that’s game by game that’s the main focus.”

She also affirmed that it is advantageous that most of her team members compete in professional leagues.

“Of course, it is critical if the players play in the good leagues if they had good support around, good coaching, that’s how our team can grow the most.”

Despite not having a full squad on their first game, the Football Ferns managed to win against Tonga 3-0.

“A lot of our players arrived a day or two before.”

Her players had a difficult time having to travel from Europe to Samoa and then playing the next day.

With a 3-1 victory over Fiji, the underdog Solomon Islands eliminated Pacific Games champions, Papua New Guinea’s Olympic dreams, to advance to the semi-finals.

Samoan supporters erupted in loud cheers as their team defeated Tonga 2-0 to advance to the semi-finals where they would face the Solomon Islands.

But after winning the group stage, New Zealand will play Fiji in Friday's semifinal.

Sam Petaia, President of the Football Federation Samoa, has defended the selection of an international majority for the Samoan team who are mostly made up of players from the diaspora.

“It’s not that we don’t support our locals, but the Federation needs to put a lot of effort into its awareness, development, and infrastructure so we’re working on that,” he said.

“Our belief is that if you have Samoan blood in you, you’re just the same as our local players to represent.

“Like every sport, you name it in Samoa, we rely on our overseas diaspora, to fill that void while we work on our local structure and local league.”

He emphasized that while local players are trying their best, the international player’s standards are at the most competitive level for Samoa.

“If our local leagues were at that level that our overseas are playing then there is a big chance that our local and overseas [would be] the same.

“[But] we won’t depend on our overseas diaspora forever. That is our focus right now, is to develop our local players, so that they can get to the level where our players are.”

Samoa’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Laumatiamanu Ringo Purcell emphasized the tournament's importance in elevating women's football not only on a local but also regional and global level.

“It embodies the enduring spirit of sportsmanship, the tenacity of athletes, the unity of nations, and the pivotal role women play in illustrating the beauty, power, and potential of football,” he said.

“Seeing our Samoan women take their place alongside teams from other Pacific nations, standing tall, dignified, and ready to take on the world, is beyond inspiring.

“It highlights not just their competitive spirit but the evolution of our society, our embrace of inclusivity, and our belief in gender equality.”

He also mentioned that Samoa playing host is an honour.

“For when our nation was but a whisper on the global sports stage, we held steadfast onto the dream that one day, we would be provided an opportunity like this. Today, that dream is now a reality.”

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By Adele Fruean