NEXT GOAL WINS – The Review

Review by Kathy Kaiser

In the new documentary NEXT GOAL WINS, Mike Brett and Steve Jamison tell the real- life story of the American Samoan Men’s Soccer team, destined to be in the record books as “the worst team ever” in professional soccer, falling in 2001 to Australia 31 – 0. Wanting to change their course in history as the lowest ranked team in the FIFA standings, this Pacific Island team works year, after year, after year, trying to perfect their craft and change their destiny and their title as the “worst team to ever play the sport of professional Football/Soccer”

With the outcome of each game being just as the one before, American Samoa continues to feel the pain of loss and defeat.   Wanting to change the plight that has plagued them for years, they decide as a team – and as a nation – to reach out to the US Soccer Federation to see if anyone is willing to take on this team, and turn them into WINNERS.   Only one coach steps forward to attempt the impossible – Dutch born coach Thomas Rongen.

As Rongen evaluates what he has to work with – or not – he devises a plan to turn each and every man on this team into a REAL Soccer player. Thrown by a culture that he doesn’t understand, compounded by a lack of physicality that he hasn’t seen before in his athletes, Rongen realizes that this situation may be even worse that he had anticipated.   Rongen decides that their only hope to turn around this team in time to compete in the 2014 World Cup Qualifier is to find a couple Samoans that can fill in the gaps of his fledgling team. Thomas finds Samoan born Rawlston Masanai and Charles Uhrle, now both living in the states – but willing to return to their home land to assist. With these two new guys in place, and the return of their 31 year old goalie Nicky Salapu – who actually took the beating they received in their 31-0 loss against Australia, and who would love nothing more than to be able to change the future of this team, and his own future in the process. Rongen thinks he may now have all the pieces in place to bring American Samoa their first win. But will this team of professional workers – NOT professional athletes – ever be able to change their reputation as the worst team ever to hit the field in professional soccer – and actually start winning games???

I give NEXT GOAL WINS 5 out of 5 stars – Whether you love soccer, or any sport for that matter, or just enjoying viewing heart- warming films filled with lots of meaning and purpose, NEXT GOAL WINS is a must see for you and your entire family! Watching these men give their hearts and souls for the love of the game, and the love of their country, made for an awesome viewing experience. Being able to see these men/athletes persevere in the jaws of defeat and to achieve the impossible is truly compelling. I believe that every athlete, every coach, every manger of any sports program should view this film – as it will educate and inspire anyone who is associated with any sport, at any level, to become the best that you can be! Seeing how Rongen himself had to restructure his coaching philosophies – and his philosophies of life itself too – in order to bring this team to the professional level they needed to achieve was amazing. As a former athlete and mother of two children who are still in athletics, I cried a few tears along the way too, as this film is as real-life as it gets. Kudos to Mike Brett and Steve Jamison for bringing this story to the big screen, and showing the world that anything is within your reach, just as long as you NEVER GIVE UP!!