New Zealand International Malia Steinmetz Launches Mana Moana to Keep Pasifika Girls in the Game

New Zealand international and FC Nordsjaelland midfielder Malia Steinmetz has launched the Mana Moana Football Collective, a leadership programme built to keep Pasifika girls in football through their teenage years. The initiative, created with Northern Region Football and Pasifika Sisters in Sport, responds to a striking statistic: in 2024, 423 Pasifika girls were registered in junior football in the region, but by youth level only 161 remained, a drop-off of 62 percent. Rather than focusing purely on drills and tactics, Mana Moana is grounded in belonging, connection and cultural identity, giving girls a space where their heritage is celebrated alongside their football development. In June, the programme welcomed its first cohort of twenty girls aged 14 to 17 into a leadership pathway designed to build confidence both on and off the pitch. Steinmetz has spoken openly about not always feeling like she belonged in football as a young Pasifika player growing up, and she wants the next generation to have a different experience. Her own journey, from grassroots football in Auckland to representing New Zealand and playing professionally in Denmark, is proof that early support and a sense of belonging can carry a player a very long way. The story is a reminder for clubs and coaches everywhere that retaining young players, especially girls and those from underrepresented communities, takes more than good coaching. It takes community, representation and programmes that make every player feel like they truly belong on the team. Source: Northern Region Football (https://www.nrf.org.nz/mana-moana-pasifika-girls-football-leadership)