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FFAS looks forward to Next Goal Wins

“It was one hell of a ride, I must say, it was unbelievable,” Thomas Rongen said in describing his feelings after watching a sneak peak of the Next Goal Wins movie.

 

“I think it’s very rare for a documentary to capture a sense of excitement.  This is a real sporting history made.”

 

On April 19, Next Goal Wins premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.

 

“We are looking forward to the premiere very much because it is a great story about the courage of a Samoan against no matter what the odds,” said FFAS President Faiivae Iuli Alex Godinet.  “Unfortunately because of our Flag Day celebrations no one from the association will be able to attend the premiere.  However, we will have a strong presence at other planned premieres.”

 

Rongen coached the 2011 team that made national news around the world by winning its first ever FIFA international match on its way to falling one-game short of winning the OFC preliminary, 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil qualification.

 

One of the stars that emerged from that team is Johnny ‘Jaiyah’ Saelua, a fa’afafine that is considered to be the first transgender to compete in a FIFA international match.

 

“I was overwhelmed with how well they put the film together! They told our story so perfectly and made everything come together smoothly! I had so many mixed emotions about the film after seeing it, but my highest feeling was proud,” Saelua said.  “Proud to be a part of such an amazing experience, and the film let me relive every moment again, and has the ability to let its viewers live that same experience with us!”

 

Larry Mana’o, coach of the team during the Pacific Games in New Caledonia, joined Rongen and a few players at a private screening in Los Angeles and also walked out impressed with the finished product.

 

“I laughed, I cried and I cheered in this movie.  I lived it and yet I still felt I was watching it from someone else's perspective and eyes.  If you loved movies like "Rudy", "We are Marshall", and "Remember the Titans", well you are going to love this movie.  I hope everyone gets a chance to see this amazing film.”

 

“It’s pretty amazing that they captured the first ever international win during the opening stage qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and really capture American Samoa’s true spirit of football,” recalled Rongen of the efforts by the film’s directors, Steve Jamison and Mike Brett and producer Kristian Brody.

 

“And to me [it] was very very refreshing to see that, you see players in a team that never won anything but continue to play in the face of defeat time and time again and that tells you something that they really love the sport more than anyone and that’s just pretty amazing,” he added.  “The documentary shows that rarity of the pureness of the game [and) again, I think that’s unbelievable.”

 

FFAS CEO Tavita Taumua, on behalf of Faiivae, the executive committee and the association, their blessings to the filmmakers, coaches and players that will be at the premiere in New York.

 

“I wrote to them to wish them the best of luck with the premiere and to give them our blessings as well,” he said.  “I myself have seen the movie as well and am very happy with how it came out.

 

“This event occurred three years ago but after watching the movie again, it felt like it just happened yesterday all over again.  Going through our win with Tonga and the loss against Samoa was very emotional for us that watched it.

 

“Everyone from that time has gone their own ways but this movie will always bring us back together wherever we watch it.  It has also forged a great friendship between our association and Thomas, Mike, Steve and Kristian.”

 

Of that 23-man squad, seven players lived off island exclusively — brothers Diamond and Ramin Ott, Saelua, Rawlston Masania’i, Nicky Salapu and Justin Mana’o, newphew to Larry.  The Ott brothers were and still are members of the U.S. Army and needed special permission to join up with the squad.

 

Today, that seven has increased to 17 after 10 more players made the move to the states with three of that number joining the U.S. Armed services.

 

“Well, Thomas, Jaiyah, Nicky and the film crew will have to represent us at the premiere and hopefully we’ll be able to join them during the next one,” Faiivae said