A new team combining the talents of the all-female sports club Titans and Y.W.A.M. (Youth With A Mission) Samoa has been formed to compete in the 2020 Taula Tag Series.

Called “Meet Me Outside” [M.M.O.], the new team’s captain Gabrielle Apelu told the Samoa Observer in an interview that she describes the new team as a “collaboration of sports development” between the Titans and Y.W.A.M. Samoa. 

The new team is playing in the Open Mix category of the tournament.

"The Titans is an all-female sports club and we have been with Samoa Tag since it's establishment. When Samoa Tag announced their tournament, the divisions available are for the Open Mix and the Open Men's,” Apelu said.

“When as the Titans, we cannot participate in an Open Women's division, we try and collaborate with other teams and organizations so we can all further develop.

"M.M.O. is a collaboration for sports development between Y.W.A.M. Samoa and the Titans. Y.W.A.M. Samoa has an amazing cohort of men athletes and the development of female athletes. 

“Together, us girls of the Titans bring in experience for the women and Y.W.A.M. brings in the support and experience of males. It is also noteworthy that Y.W.A.M. Samoa has one of our Titans as a member thus this coming together.”

Talking about how the team’s name was first coined, Apelu said it came about as a result of a “tongue in cheek” comment and was later formalised. 

"The name is tongue in cheek for just meeting on the field and outside for games. None of our teams have facilities for training, etc, and what better way to build a team than to meet out on the footy field hence the ‘Meet Me Outside’ name.”

This year’s tournament is a first for the M.M.O. added Apelu, who indicated that the team was only put together within a week.

"This is our first time and we hope to learn from playing with different players, as the experience is beneficial for both sides. Our team was put together in a week.”

As a new team in the Open Mix category, their results thus far has been mixed with Apelu emphasising the need for more communication between the players, if they are to make their mark.

"The series has been great. We lost our first two matches and won our last two. Each game is teaching us how to grow together as a team and how to support each other. 

“The first week we were second last on the table, the second week we were last on the table and in the 4th week we are now 3rd on the table.

"Communication is key to any team, and as always, needs work. Being a new team and playing amongst the old teams it's been very great. The whole experience is playing different teams no matter how old or how new they may be, we are always learning from the experience. 

Whether we win or lose, it's a lesson learned and we can only move on from there.”

M.M.O. is looking forward to this week's challenge and they hope for better results after the weekend’s games.