Courtesy: David Brand

Indomitable Manumea!!!

Manumea Samoa last night lost to New Zealand in the last of its five qualifying games in the Oceania Futsal World Cup Tournament in Canberra, Australia, by 6 goals to 2. Suspensions and injury depleted the strength of Manumea in a game which was eventually, one too many, after the gallant display the previous night against Australia.

‘Indomitable Samoa’ as named by one Australian journalist continued to show that they have both the skill, awareness and the potential to become a Futsal force in Oceania. In another end to end game against a New Zealand side that was chasing goals to keep alive its slim chance of qualifying, Manumea gave another good account of themselves providing many headaches for their more illustrious opposition.

New Zealand needing well into double figures should Australia have failed against Vanuatu attempted to pull out all the stops but were foiled especially in the first half by a resolute defence. When an own goal gave Samoa the lead in the 9th minute, after a deflected shot from Lionel Taylor and much to the delight of the crowd, a shock was once again potentially on the cards. A New Zealand time was called in an effort to change the game and it did with 3 unanswered goals in a 2 minute period. Once again lack of concentration and poor defending allowed New Zealand to take a 2 goal lead into the half time break. On reflection, little reward for Samoa after such a positive opening.

Samoa came out firing after the break following a mighty Sasa in the changing room and 3 early shots forced the New Zealand keeper to make 3 fine saves. Gradually though as the Kiwis stepped up the intensity, the Samoans fell further behind after 6 minutes. Then the sending off of goalkeeper Setefanu Pesa after 12 minutes for a deliberate hand ball, whilst in the process of making an excellent save and sliding out of the area due to his momentum sealed Samoa’s fate. The red card decision which seemed very harsh was greeted with boos from the neutrals around the stadium. New Zealand scored from the resultant free kick and at 5-2 the game was all but over.

New Zealand added a sixth goal when substitute keeper Pili let a shot slip through his hands and 3 goals in 9 minutes left the Kiwis in an unassailable position after a strong comeback. Manumea Coach David Brand called a time out encouraging his charges for one mighty last effort. They did not let him down and in an end to end finish Pualele Lamana grabbed a consolation 2nd goal for Samoa from a thundering free kick following a deliberate handball. Once again the crowd was astonished with no yellow card for the assailant, as an identical situation resulted in a yellow for Samoan Ipu Alalatoa in the first half.

Samoa ended the game on a high and nothing more or less than they deserved in a good game against the runners up in the tournament. Well done New Zealand whose greater experience finally wore down the tiring Samoans but Malo Samoa for another huge effort against the odds.

An emotionally drained National Coach David Brand again could only praise his team who with limited firepower today pushed the second ranked team in Oceania right to the end.

“I feel we have ended on a high and now wish the tournament could start all over again. The improvement of the side over the preparation games and the tournament has been huge and very encouraging for the future. Today we were depleted by having both Ki and Kiwi suspended whilst Filipo and Manu were suffering from injury and not at full fitness. Well done to all our opposition, good luck to Australia in the finals in Taipei, but Manumea Samoa will be back!”commented the coach from courtside.

When questioned about his team’s disciplinary record which looks poor on paper, he was quick to jump to the defence of his players.

“I am not going to buy into any arguments about refereeing other than to say we are not a dirty team and fair play is always paramount in the way I coach. I was the same as a player having never been red carded in my life. I feel we fell foul to some professionalism by Australia and even New Zealand but contributed to this with a little naivety on our behalf and exuberant passion, as we adapted to the game. In fact I feel that at times we are too polite. At the highest level of all sport, gamesmanship is part and parcel of what occurs, like or not and we need to develop some of this and add it to the armoury.”

“However I do believe a little inconsistency with some decisions cost us dearly. At the end of the day the officials have a job to do as they see it and we have no complaints, but I am also entitled to an opinion rightly or wrongly. In fact we are all accountable and make mistakes, myself included and I made some during the tournament as well. We accept that we were the sixth best team in the tournament, but with a little luck and a few decisions going our way, things could have been so different. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The tournament is history now and thanks to the official’s, organisers and teams for a good week. Hope to see you in four years.”

Manumea Samoa return to Samoa on Sunday night local time departing Sydney on the 2nd August on Polynesian Airlines, following a few days rest with family in Sydney.