With just two days remaining before departing for Papua New Guinea (PNG) to compete in the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship 2026, the Samoa U-16 Boys have completed their final training session following more than five months of dedicated preparation.
Under the leadership of Head Coach and Technical Director Michael Martines, the squad has undertaken an intensive training programme with the support of Assistant Coaches Pualele Lemana and Faapopo I’amafana.
Coach Martines expressed confidence in the team’s readiness, highlighting the significant progress made throughout the programme.
He noted that while the players initially found the new technical skills and fitness sessions challenging, they have shown remarkable improvement in their football ability, tactical understanding, and overall fitness.
Coach Martines departed for New Zealand today to accompany overseas-based players, who will join the rest of the squad in Papua New Guinea on 8 July 2026 ahead of the tournament.
The team’s goalkeepers have also benefited from the guidance of Goalkeeper Coach Joseph Kapisi, whose dedication has played an important role in preparing both goalkeepers for international competition.
Samoa has been drawn in Group A and will begin its campaign against the host nation Papua New Guinea on 12 July. The team will then face Fiji on 15 July, before concluding the group stage against New Caledonia on 18 July.
Group A Fixtures
- 12 July 2026: Papua New Guinea vs Samoa
- 15 July 2026: Samoa vs Fiji
- 18 July 2026: Samoa vs New Caledonia
The Samoa Football Federation extends its best wishes to the players and coaching staff as they prepare to proudly represent Samoa at the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship 2026.
