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Rongen may return to the helm of American Samoa

“Next Goal Wins” has received rave reviews from critics throughout the U.S. and around the world. The movie tells the tale of how former U.S. U-20 coach Thomas Rongen took on the helm of American Samoa — FIFA’s once last-placed team — and helped them achieve something they had not done in their history; win a match.While that magical journey ends on the big screen, it may continue off of it. On a sunny Saturday morning, soccer was being celebrated in Brooklyn Bridge Park in the annual NY FEST (Film and Entertainment Soccer Tournament). Thomas Rongen was in attendance, and told EOS about his desire to return to the Pacific island.“I would like to go back there again maybe for the next phase of qualifying, which will be Russia in 2018,” Rongen says. “Maybe spend a little time on the grassroots level and see if we can capture the imagination of the younger kids there.”Rongen wouldn’t be returning just to visit. He would like to retain the head coaching job of the team he helped build.“It’s in the cards right now,” he revealed.Rongen’s journey with the once last-place nation in the FIFA rankings is well known. Their historic 31-0 loss to Australia (yes, you read that score right) came to define their program:However, the problems didn’t just end on the field. American Samoa has issues with high unemployment rates and obesity. “Young athletic players only way off the island is the military,” Rongen notes. Funding and infrastructure also contribute to American Samoa standing in as the Oceania group’s whipping boys.Rongen hopes to build on the success on the field — and on the silverscreen — to continue nurturing soccer on the island nation.“We’re trying to start a foundation, maybe we can generate some money that allows us to bring quality people back to the island and can not only run the next World Cup, but continue to educate everybody on the island in regards to creating the awareness soccer needs on the island,” he said.He could hardly envision this path just a few years ago.