Star Rating:

Next Goal Wins

Directors: Mike Brett, Steve Jamison

Actors: Jaiyah Saelua, Nicky Salapu, Thomas Rongen

Release Date: Saturday 30th November 2013

Genre(s): Documentary

Running time: 97 minutes

Back in 2001, the soccer team of the small island of American Samoa lost by the widest ever margin in a World Cup qualifying game, losing 31-0 and promptly positioned at the very bottom of the national teams from around the world. A decade later, and they're still considered the worst team in the world, having just lost all four games in a local tournament. Fed up with being the laughing stock of the game, they call in some help, and it arrives in the form of Dutch coach Thomas Rongen, who is here to whip these players into a team with the potential to even score a goal, never mind win a match.

American Samoa may seem like a beautiful paradise island, but could be considered a third world country, and has been struck by its fair share of tragedy. With a population of roughly 60,000, it's difficult for Rongen to find eleven worthy players for the Brazil World Cup qualifying matches, but the team he assembles are a hugely enthusiastic, lovable motley crew. Over time, Rongen's tough demeanour gets softened by the locals, and we see the team hardening up under his new regime. Other characters get their time in the film’s spotlight too, such as Nicky Salapu, the retired goalie of that 31-0 loss who returns to play with his team again, and Jaiyeh Saeleu, a member of Samoa's third gender, and the first ever transgendered player to be in the starting squad a FIFA match.

While the middle section suffers from far too many training montages and the momentum of the story sags, the winning optimism still shines through, and when the time comes for the fantastically edited matches in the film’s final third, you'll be cheering them on from the edge of your seat.

In a climate when more attention is paid to transfer costs and weekly incomes of players, it's refreshing to see it brought back simply to the love of the sport. Far from a documentary aimed solely at the lovers of the beautiful game, Next Goal Wins is a great little gem about teamwork, friendship, family, community and passion for what you enjoy doing.