American Samoa’s Under 17 girls beach handball team is leaving Mauritius today on a high note.
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They qualify for the Youth World Championships in Argentina next year by winning their last two games against Australia, and the home team.
The team lost six and won three games in Maritius.
Coach Carl Floor said from Maritius this morning, “Losing to Venezuela and Thailand motivated us as we now needed to beat Australia and Mauritius.
“Australia played tough beating us in the first period but our girls bounced back with a strong second half performance to force an overtime shootout which we won 5-4, securing the win.”
American Samoa then dominated Mauritius winning both periods. “securing the first ever Youth Olympic Invitation by an American Samoa Sports team.”
Floor praised the girls” “Our team consists of home grown local athletes only and I am very proud of that. They as residents understand how to represent American Samoa on the court and off the court. I am very proud of them.”
Player Frances Nautu said they will forever cherish their experience in Mauritius “especially people they met on the field, strangers who became family.”
She said that before and after every game they said a prayer. She believes the prayers gave them extra strength and determination.
The team also shared the Samoan culture everywhere they went.
Frances said many people they met asked that the team do a Samoan siva or sing a song, and people just loved their performances. She said hopefully the people they met “get a chance to visit our Samoan islands.”
The team thanks their coaches and their captains.
Frances says, “Two girls in our team whom never gave up on us and motivated us throughout our training and games are our captains Stephanie Floor and Fiapaipai Fanene.”
