Samoa backs

soccer

By Shailendra Singh

Soccer administrators in Western Samoa can be forgiven if they greet every victo ry of their national rugby union team with mixed feelings.

As far as funding is concerned, this is a near-disaster for a country where the national economy is having its own prob lems. Despite the one-sided competition and other associated problems, Western Samoa’s soccer administrators are carry ing on their efforts, and slowly but surely, reaping the rewards.

Its problems hasn’t deterred the Western Samoan Football (soccer) Association from offering to host the inau gural Polynesian Cup proposed for next year. For the Samoans, it was quite an achievement to participate in the Oceania under-23 qualifying rounds held in Fiji in September .

Captained by centre-half Benjamin Falevou, Western Samoa lost all three pool matches. This was expected, but not the narrow margins by which they lost - 10-0

or 8-0 had been the norm in past years.

This year, new Zealand, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea all had to contend with 3-0 shorelines.

Team manager Ropate Enosa admitted they did better than expected. He said they were proud to have held the fast New Zealand team to 0-3. "Two of the goals shouldn’t have gone in, just one was a sure goal.”

And it’s not just the Manu Samoa rugby team that has been importing players to beef up the national side. Two Samoan under-23 players were based in Australia and two in New Zealand. They were a great asset to the team, according to Enosa.

Goalkeeper Sean Cahil plays for Sydney Olympics in the under-15 competition with 14-year-old striker Timothy Cahil.

The Kiwi-based players were 19-year-old sweeper Nathan Tavale and striker Rakesh Jattan, 17.

Tavale plays for Waitenmata in the Auckland reserve grade while Jattan, who is of Indian/Samoan descent, is an

Auckland school rep.

Enosi said their best players were left behind because they also played rugby. ”We only picked those who play soccer,” said Enosi, explaining it was part of moves to make soccer more popular in the coun try.

The president of the Samoan soccer body isTautuloToebeck, a civil servant. He was behind Western Samoa’s push to host a Polynesian Cup, saying, “it will promote the game between Polynesian countries”.

Toebeck, who played for the national team in the 1983 South Pacific Games and the 1985 New Zealand tour, believes soc cer can become popular in Western Samoa.“We have to promote the game and get people interested. At the moment many people don’t understand the game.”

Western Samoa has asked Oceania Football Confederation for assistance in training referees and coaches.

The association has been able to get a $lO,OOO grant from government and has secured a sponsor - Fiji-based biscuit man ufacture, Lees Trading.

The country has recently introduced competitions for the 19,17,15 and 10-year age groups.

There are 20 teams in the premier com petitions. Encouraged by the progress it has made, the association has increased its efforts in promoting the game by also hav ing a women’s competition.

Toebeck believes its certain that Western Samoa will become a soccer force in the region before the turn of the century.