Following a spectacular opening ceremony for the 16th Pacific Games on Sunday, dubbed the “miracle games” because of the short time that the hosts had to prepare after the original hosts, Tonga pulled out, sports competition began yesterday in rainy weather in Apia.
Our teams competed in tennis, soccer and beach volleybnall yesterday.
Our mens and womens beach volleyball teans were both victories in their first matches.
The men defeated New Caledonia 2-1 and our women’s team also won by the same score, 2-1, against the New Caledonians.
In tennis, Charity Sagiao won her singles match against an opponent from the Solomon Islands, 6-love, 6-1.
Kalani Soli was leading 5-1 in the first set when her match, also against the Solomons , was canceled due to rain. She will continue play this morning at 8.
Our soccer teams were both unsuccessful in their first games yesterday.
Our mens team lost to New Caledonia 5-0 and our womens team was scoreless in their game against Fiji. Final score was 11-0.
Men’s Coach Lui Tunoa said, “Our players are very young and inexperienced, but I’m happy with how they performed. The majority of them were able to play the full 90 minutes despite the speed fo the game.”
At the last Pacific Games in New Caledonia, American Samoa lost 9-0.
This time New Caledonia managed three goals in the first half and two in the second half with two of those five coming from the penalty spot.
If not for those penalty kicks, the game could have ended with a smaller margin.
Coach Tunoa commented, “Without those two penalties, I think the game’s score could have been at least 2-0.”
Our womens team did show some good flashes but their fitness and technical ability was not up to par.
Head Coach Ati Faamau Samuelu said, “They played their hearts out and even being much younger, and less experienced, they gave it their best.”
Against Fiji they found themselves on their backfoot for the majority of the game and the slippery conditions did not help too as it rained sporadically throughout,
For the Games opening ceremony the day before,American Samoa’s flag bearer was weightlifter Tanumafili Jungblut. Miss American Samoa, Magalita Johnson, joined the parade marching at the front with ASNOC president Ed Imo. It had been raining for much of the day but right before the opening, the rain stopped.
Before Samoa’s Head of State Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa II declared the Games open,. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele urged the athletes to do their best for their countries.
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