Samoa's national hockey team for the 2023 Pacific Games will be chosen after 24 players go through trials this weekend in a bid to get them into shape to become medal contenders. 

The Pacific Games will be held in the Solomon Islands capital Honiara from 19 November to 2 December 2023 in a first for the Melanesian country.

The players have been training for the last several weeks with the President of the Samoa Hockey Federation and national coach for the men’s team Faamausili Taiva Ah Young. The trials are this weekend at Sogi but the only problem is a proper facility for the hockey games.

With the trials due this weekend, the squad will be formally announced next week, with Faamausili saying there are a lot of new players who are young but he remains hopeful that they will have a good squad.

“Hockey was revived early this year and we have been going into schools teaching basic skills. With our school programs we managed to form six junior teams for under 13 and six senior teams that participate in competitions every Saturday at the Malaefatu Park in Sogi,” he said. “We were blessed to receive the concrete court behind the central bank as our training grounds leading up to the Pacific Games and we thank the Samoa Tourism Authorities that made it possible.

“We are so happy that we can go and we appreciate all the help and support given to the team.”

The following men’s hockey players have been selected for trials on Saturday.

1.  Aise Fiafua 

2.  Antonio Anetelea 

3.  Antonio Logopati 

4.  Dylianna Paul Wooching 

5.  Fatuaiga Poe Taulaga 

6   Fale Luafalealo 

7.  Byjay Kitiona 

8.  Jay Gagio Ugapo 

9.  Jeremiah Constantino Nunufolau 

10. Junior Silao Lio 

11. Lealea Vaa 

12. Misty Taumaoe 

13. Liguse Vaa 

14  Misty Ioane 

15. Orlando Falasii 

16. PJ Upumoni Pio 

17. Reubenjay Lene 

18. Sale Tupu Muagutu 

19. Seumanutafa Mathew Teo 

20. Simon Lee Chong 

21  Tanu Nunufolau 

22. Vainiu Teo 

23. Faaolaina Aukusotino 

24. Paulo Topita