Samoa’s U-16 Boy’s football team competing at the Oceania Football Confederation U16 Preliminary Championship qualifiers in Tonga began its campaign on a positive note winning its first match against the Cook Islands 3 - 0.

Samoa’s coach Martin Tamasese was very pleased with the first up performance of his team.

Jarvis Filimalae opened the scoring in 37th minute through a well work team goal, this was followed by a another Samoan goal by Fetuao Belcher after a goal line scramble taking Samoa to 2 - 0 half time lead. 

Although Cook Islands never gave up, it was the Samoans that continued to dominate the bulk of possession. 

The game was finally finished off by some individual brilliance by Jarvis Filimalae for this second goal and Samoa’s third in the 75th minute of the match.

Jarvis is currently on scholarship at Hasting Boys High through a partnership between Hastings Boys and the Football Federation Samoa. 

Fetuao Belcher is a classmate and teammate of Jarvis at Hasting Boys and is the lone New Zealand born player on the team.

“I’m really happy with the boys today. We prepared well and had Plan A and Plan B and we continued to put pressure and counter our opponent from every angle today.”

The Samoa U-16 team hope to continue its winning run when it plays American

Samoa. 

Their final game is against host Tonga on Friday 20th July at the Loto Tonga Soka Center.

 The winner of the preliminary championship moves on to final OFC qualifying

tournament for the FIFA U17 World Cup. The Final Qualifying Tournament is being hosted in the Solomon Islands from 9th – 22nd September 2018.

Team List

1. Semu FAIMATA (GK) 

2. Eli SATUALA

3. Samu GALU TAUASA 

4. Tavita TO’O

5. Fetuao BELCHER

6. Kawasaki SAOFAIGA

7. Lotial MANO

8. Bitner TAFILI

9. Falaniko NANUMEA

10. John TUMUA LEO

11. Jarvis FILIMALAE

12. Tony AMITUANAI

14. Isaako SIONE

15. Alex FALELUA

16. Denny CHESHIRE

17. Alman KWAN

21. Steve VAINALEPA (GK)

Coach: Martin TAMASESE (SAM)