Anuenue will forfeit Saturday's Oahu Interscholastic Association White football game against Kaimuki because of a lack of players, league football coordinator Harold Tanaka said.

Na Koa coach Kealoha Wengler said he is down to 13 players with six out because of the flu or injury. He said there is a safety concern because some players would be playing out of position and might be vulnerable to injury.

Although he will add about seven new players who turned out late, they aren't likely to contribute this season because of their lack of experience. Wengler said he would allow them to practice to prepare them for next season.

However, Wengler said there might not be a next season because of a low number of boys enrolled in the ninth and 10th grades. Anuenue would not be able to sustain any depth. He said the program would terminate and those wanting to play would have to join with Roosevelt, where Anuenue has three students playing on the Rough Riders' JV.

Wengler said the program will ask the OIA if it can set up a combine team with charter schools. It was proposed before, Wengler said, but was declined by the league's principals, who make policy.

Despite having small rosters since it started playing OIA football five season ago, this is the first time Na Koa has had to forfeit.

"I really feel bad for them," Wengler said of his players. "But we look at this (forfeit) as a time to heal and time to get better."

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