Samoa netball coach Frances Solia says the national team is in a redevelopment stage as they plan towards the 2019 World Cup.
Frances Solia reaches for the ball during the 2003 Netball World Champs in Jamaica. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The former Samoan captain retired from playing at the top level in 2012, and spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the Central Pulse in the ANZ Championship.
The 40-year-old, who also coaches a club and college team in Wellington, has been appointed Samoa head coach through to the World Cup in Liverpool, replacing Marcia Hardcastle, who led the Samoans to a 10th place finish at the 2015 event in Sydney.
"I applied for it like everyone else - I was never shoulder-tapped or none of that," she said.
"It was a fair process and I applied and just grateful that I've been given that opportunity to be the head coach."
Solia said one of the challenges facing Pacific players in the modern day was the restriction of international players in New Zealand and Australian franchise teams.
"Because of that we've had a lot of girls haven't been able to play franchise or have been reluctant to represent our country because they know that if they do they would more than likely not be able to pick up a contract," she said.
"The message is clear and everyone knows it...we will be classed as an international anyone who represents another country, regardless if you're based here [in New Zealand] so think wisely about the decision you make.
"I think it is what it is and everyone's just got to move on - like I've moved on and we just work with what we have and that's it really, end of story."
Frances Solia playing for the Central Pulse in 2008. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Frances Solia said she plans to hold trials and evaluate the squad in the coming months.
"I'm going to go over [to Samoa] in April and I'm going to do some work just the local players so I can see - because I have no idea - of the talent back home in Samoa, so I just want to make it closed for them, " she said.
"Spend some times with the girls do some testing, some basic skills and drills, so I can get a good idea and then in July we will open the trial up to anyone who is interested to play for Samoa so all those players from overseas will come and trial."
"[I'm] not sure who's going to come back. We're not doing any shoulder-tapping or anything, we're just pretty much putting it out there: come trial if you want to," Solia said.
"So we will see because a lot of people come in and out and that's one of the challenges we have, because everything is almost self-funded it does take its toll.
"I kind of know who's going to come but I don't want to say anything out loud in case it doesn't happen.
"You hear a lot of people talking that they're going to come trial or not trial so you just have to wait for the day."
Samoa haven't played since the 2015 World Cup in Sydney and Frances Solia said their next hit-out will be at the Pacific Mini Games in December.
Samoa finished 10th at the 2015 World Cup. Photo: Netball World Cup SYDNEY 2015
