Utulei Youth

Utulei Youth
Full name Utulei Youth
Founded 1996
Ground Pago Park Soccer Stadium
Pago Pago, American Samoa
Ground Capacity 2,000
Chairman American Samoa Ioane Evagelia
Manager American Samoa Ututoa Ino
League FFAS Senior League
2015 1st

Utulei Youth are an association football team from American Samoa. They play in the territory's top division, the FFAS Senior League. They have won the domestic league championship twice, in 2014 (a perfect season) and 2015, and the domestic cup once, in 2014.

History

Utulei Youth was founded in 1996 by Rev. Ioane Evagelia, who serves as both the president and the coach of the club. Early in their history, they participated in 5 and 7-a-side games, but they now play in the 11-a-side FFAS National League.[1] In addition to league play, the team also competes in American Samoa's domestic cup, the FFAS President's Cup.[2]

Utulei finished the 2012 season in third, taking 27 points from 14 games.[3] They finished the 2013 season in fifth place, having taken seven points from seven games.[4]

The club won its first major honors in 2014, when it had a perfect season, winning all eight of their games and taking the 2014 FFAS Senior League championship. Conrado Kaleopa and Iotamo Lameta were the goalscorers in the final game of the season, a 2–1 victory over Lion Heart, which would finish second in the league.[1] Utulei Youth finished with a +11 goal difference and six points ahead of Lion Heart;[5] Lion Heart would have won the league with a victory in the last game.[1] Utulei Youth also won American Samoa's annual knockout tournament, the FFAS President's Cup, again with a 2–1 victory over Lion Heart. Ryan Samuelu scored one goal for Utulei and caused the other, a Lion Heart own goal.[2] The Utulei Youth women's team also won in the national league in 2014, and came in second in the President's Cup, behind PanSa.[2] As the winner of the 2014 league season, Utulei qualified for the 2016 OFC Champions League, entering in a four team preliminary round for a position in the group stages.[6]

In 2015, Utulei Youth again won their domestic league, again six points ahead of second place Lion Heart. With their second consecutive league title, they will become the second team (after 2012 and 2013 league winners Pago Youth) to represent American Samoa at the OFC Champions League for two years in a row.[7] The Utulei Youth women's team also won their league, and again came in second to PanSa in the President's Cup.[7]

Current squad

Squad for the 2015–16 OFC Champions League Preliminary stage[8]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 American Samoa GK Jonthan Faavae
2 American Samoa DF Ne'emia Kaleopa
3 American Samoa DF Palauni Tapusoa
4 South Korea FW Kang Gun-chul
5 American Samoa DF Travis Pita Sinapati
6 American Samoa MF Kaleopa Siligi
7 American Samoa DF Ryan Samuelu
8 American Samoa MF Maluolefale Faavae
9 American Samoa MF Kome Tomasi
No. Position Player
10 American Samoa FW Elama Faatonu
11 American Samoa MF Tala Faalavaau
12 American Samoa DF Ueli Tualaulelei
13 American Samoa GK Peter Harrington
15 American Samoa MF Pesamino Victor
14 American Samoa MF Tea Siatu'u
16 American Samoa DF Paul Collins
17 American Samoa DF Iopu Kaleopa

Honors

2014, 2015
2014

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Utulei champions of men's FFAS National League". FFAS.as. Football Federation American Samoa. 11 November 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Vitolio, Brian (5 December 2014). "Utulei Youth wins President's Cup in 2–1 thriller". Samoa News. Osini Faleatasi Inc. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  3. ↑ "Summary – Division 1 – American Samoa". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  4. ↑ "Summary – Division 1 – American Samoa". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  5. ↑ "Summary – Division 1 – American Samoa". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  6. ↑ "OFC Champions League draw revealed". New Zealand Football. 18 November 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  7. 1 2 Vitolio, Brian (10 December 2015). "Utulei Youth repeats as double champions". Samoa News. Osini Faleatasi Inc. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  8. ↑ "Veitongo FC Official Team List".
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