History was made at the JS Blatter grounds where the Samoa Football Women’s team won their last group match against New Caledonia with a 3 – 2 final score. Samoa head coach Nicola Demaine was pleased with the team’s performance.
“Obviously we are pleased with the results, to have your team come back from 2 points and walk away with 3 points, you can’t ask for anything else from your players. They all went out there and gave their hundred per cent and it was enough from the day to get us through to the Gold medal match. Samoa Women’s team have played 3 historical matches where they won against Fiji with 1 – 0, Tonga 5 – 0 and draw against American Samoa.
I can say we are making history and every girl whose watched today should go out there and pick up a football ball and be one of these people in 15 years’ time, it’s the best game in the world and it’s the easiest game to organize and Samoa could be massive in the pacific region if we can work in the right way after the success of this women’s team, Demaine added.”
The last group match game determined Samoa’s place to play in the gold, silver and bronze matches for the XVI Pacific Games. With team Samoa leading Group A, they now have a chance to play against the mighty Papua New Guinea team for the Gold and Silver matches.
“PNG are pretty fast pretty physical and I know they will be organized, I know the coaches personally work with them in the past and I know what to expect to a degree but we handle it. We will come up with a game plan to make sure we make our best to get gold. We know what to expect from Papua New Guinea for sure. Definitely physical, have to be fast, organized and we will be ready, says Demaine.”
Despite New Zealand not participating in the XVI Pacific games, Samoa Women’s team will use the opportunity wisely to earn a Medal for Samoa.
“The pacific game is a great event, because NZ don’t come and everybody come thinking they can win a gold medal so it’s a massive difference, people prepare, Olympics committee involved and it’s a great spectical for women’s football and its so important where there’s a place we can all come and know we have a chance to win it while we spare some time catching up for new Zealand.
Coach Nicola Demaine has been involved with Samoa National Women’s team since 2018 and worked for FFS women’s football while working as the Head of OFC Women’s Football department.
Women’s football has been always a challenge; we know men’s football is a challenge, when we start having successes; hopefully people starting to put in some money for the sports, people are wanting to play and have to put their hands up and hopefully the federation can deliver the opportunity for those young women’s and girls to play, so we have a chances by the nation, and I think gold or silver this girls will going to do that.
Match Schedule
Saturday 20 July 2019 – JS Blatter Complex 12pm
Samoa vs Papua New Guinea
