Former Manusina player Seifono Misili has taken up the head coach position of Taema at the National Sevens trials. 

The 33-year-old started playing with Manusina between 2007–2019 culminating with the XVI 2019 Pacific Games which Samoa hosted in 2019.

 This is her first time to be selected as a head coach of a women's team and she was elated with the opportunity.

"I am very happy and humbled for this golden opportunity to coach a women's team," she said. “This is also the chance for me to share the methods that I got from playing in the previous years and also when I was part of the management during the Invest Samoa Championship.”

The head coach said the role isn't challenging as she was a player before and she knows her way around the sport and how to deal with the players.

Misili started playing for the Manusina 7s in 2007-2008 and moved to 15s in 2009 and the Mini Games (touch rugby), before going back to the 7s in 2010, the Pacific Games in 2011, Manusina 7s in 2014, Touch world Cup in 2015, the Manusina 7s Pacific Games in 2015, and the Manusina 7s in the 2019 Pacific Games.

“There are no difficulties in the game, being a coach is no different from being a manager, as they both work hand-in-hand for the betterment of the team,” she said. “The only difference I know is that the coach should be focused on the training schedules each day and game plan for each match, but for the manager he looks after the players, providing food and looking after each player's welfare.”

Speaking on her team's preparations, she is confident that they prepared well and are ready for the two-day event this week and next week, and hopes that the women's teams can take their games to the next level.

"My team is well-prepared for the trials, but there are some areas that we need to work on to improve and to lift the standard of the women's tournaments to the next level."

"My only hope as a coach is to have players from my team in the Manusina national squad. 

“So for me, it is not about winning this tournament, it is about my players getting selected and having a chance to experience the real world of rugby, playing against other girls from other countries."

They had two games on Thursday at the Apia Park stadium and they so far have a one win and one loss record. They will be preparing again for Friday's encounter.