SimplyAbuDhabi V

Is sporting prowess something that runs in the family? When you have Samoan heritage, you always have plenty of relatives because of the big size of families over there. I have cousins who play – and have played – top flight rugby league and rugby union and we are all very proud of each other’s achievements and I am fortunate enough to have grown up in a sports-orientated family. I knew by the age of 10 that I wanted to be a professional football player; I used to watch the games beamed in from England with my dad and brothers and that only fed my obsession. There was no real Plan B for me and I knew that one day I would come to England to fulfil my dreams. I didn’t have a clue when but I knew it was going to be an adventure and a massive part of my life. I remember when I was 14 years old telling my dad that I’d had enough of school and that I wanted to concentrate on my football career. Within three years, I had managed to get myself a trial at Millwall and the dream was starting to become a reality. What were your early influences? We lived over in Samoa for a couple of years as kids, in the capital, Apia, and the Samoan influence is definitely a big part of my life; so big that I even represented the Samoan national football team at the age of 14. I think it came as a bit of a surprise to my whole family when I brought “soccer” into the family because, traditionally, Samoan’s were brought up playing rugby league and rugby union. We hear you have some cultural affinity for the Middle East? I’m a big fan of Qatar, following some time spent in rehab there overcoming injuries. I underwent excellent injury maintenance and rehabilitation at Aspetar, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital. With a personal interest in the Middle East, I was pleased with Qatar’s 2022 World Cup victory, which may come as a surprise to many. I saw their presentation and was really impressed. I’d jump at the opportunity to attend the World Cup there in 2022. I also have business connections in Qatar, so yes; the Middle East holds great appeal for me. What inspired you to set up your Coaching Clinics? I have been lucky enough to get the opportunity to pursue my dreams and have had a fantastic soccer career. From this fortunate position I’ve found myself in, I hope to inspire the future generation of Australian soccer players. I want to change grass roots football in Australia. Basically that's what I'm doing now. I want to help kids understand they can change things with hard work. The aim of our Coaching Clinics is to encourage children to develop their talents within a supportive and fun environment, building on their interest to nurture talent. Who knows, we may find a real soccer star. What will the Coaching Clinics incorporate? We need to increase participation in the game and our mission is to maximise the potential of Australian soccer. To achieve this goal we have an expert coaching development program in place. As well as developing technical ability, the clinics teach children the importance of healthy eating and the right lifestyle. They also learn about fitness and injury prevention. It’s about the whole picture – on and off the pitch – in order to improve the quality of the game.