From Suburbs to Samoa for local coach

Local coach Ryan ‘Skippy’ Stewart says it’s an honour to be called up to head the U23 Samoan team as part of their Olympic qualifying bid.

The Suburbs men’s team coach had already been asked earlier in the year to lead the country’s U17 team to a tournament in Tahiti, but had to decline due to prior commitments.

This time around, he says it was too good of an opportunity to pass up, even if it does slightly clash with his planned holiday back to the UK.

With three weeks together as a squad, having a week and a half to train as a full team before their first game against Tonga, he’s excited to see everyone come together from all corners of the globe to compete for their country.

“It’s a young side, 80 per cent are 20 years old and younger so it’s a youthful team.”

With the Oceania confederation under Fifa having just one spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics for the region, the team will have to finish in the top two of their pool with Tonga, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands to advance to the semi-final.

With Australia joining the Asian confederation in 2006, Ryan says the real challenge will be if anyone can topple the New Zealand team.

The two power-house countries have won the tournament every edition since its inception in 1988, with four-apiece, except for 2015 when it was won by Fiji after they beat Vanuatu in penalties.

“Can anyone turn over New Zealand, the top team,” says Ryan.

“But, anything’s possible in football. That’s why it’s a great game.”

Ryan says he applied for the job earlier this year after being encouraged by his “good friend” Paul Ifill, who now coaches the Samoan women’s team.

He and Paul have had a long-term working relationship together, spanning the era of Tasman United (2016-18) and the creation of the local Ifill Academy.

Having been released from his commitments with Nelson Suburbs to lead the Samon team, Ryan was thankful for the club’s support as his employer.

Without their backing, he says his dreams of coaching international football would have not been possible.

“It’s fantastic to say I’ve been part of international football. It’s something as a coach you always want to do.

“It was always a dream and to do it so young is special.”