Steven Faoagali's lifelong dream of coaching the Samoan national boxing team has finally become a reality. Samoa Boxing has selected Faoagali on his experience and work with Samoan boxers. 

Faoagali said he was honoured and grateful for the opportunity.

"I've been involved in boxing since I was a child with my dad and brothers. I was not good enough to make it big as a boxer but I was good at training people," he said. 

"Some people are talented in fighting and some are gifted at teaching, I am one of those. I would describe it as like a racehorse and its trainer, the horse cannot teach and guide itself to win a race the trainer does that.

"It was always a dream of mine to coach Samoa. In the past I was always behind the scenes, coaching my son Ato and Marion and other boys, but I was never able to take them to their major tournaments. So this is a dream come true for me to be selected as head coach."

According to coach Faoagali, his greatest achievements would be seeing Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali and Marion Faustino Ah Tong make it on the international scene. 

"Like most Samoan coaches it's always funding and trying to gather resources for boxers and myself to better prepare for major tournaments and training camps," he said. 

"I would like to see Samoa boxing back at the top of the  Pacific and Oceania region. At the moment we are sitting second behind Australia in the region.

"That's my aim is to help Samoa get back to the top like they did many years ago and to be competitive at the higher level in Commonwealth and Olympics."

He also mentioned that his son Ato has been selected as assistant coach, and they are currently seeking out sponsorship opportunities for them to attend the world championships in England in November.