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American Samoa spreading the net wide for fresh soccer talent, and more OFC finals appearances

American Samoa spreading the net wide for fresh soccer talent, and more OFC finals appearances

It's nearly 30 years since Football Federation American Samoa joined OFC, but in that time they have managed just once to get a team past a preliminary round and qualify to compete in an Oceania tournament proper.
But now the FFAS has reached what their president Alex Godinet says is a pivitol moment in their development by partnering with the International Football Consultancy.
Run by directors Alastair McLae and Russ Gurr, they have already assisted Cook Islands, Fiji, and most notably Samoa, to identify new soccer talent in the diaspora.
In Samoa's case an influx of players has led to their young women securing a place at the next two under 17 FIFA World Cups in Morocco.
So now American Samoa have drafted in those same specialists, with the aim of strengthening all their teams to increase their chances of qualifying for OFC tournaments, and Alastair McLae says the early signs are very encouraging.
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