Utulei Youth

Utulei Youth are an association football team from Pago Pago in 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.

Utulei Youth
Full nameUtulei Youth
Founded1996
StadiumPago Park Soccer Stadium
Pago Pago, American Samoa
Capacity2,000
ChairmanIoane Evagelia
ManagerPita Sinapati
LeagueFFAS Senior League
20225th

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]

Squad

2022 Squad [8] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK American Samoa ASA Franklin Pitone
2 DF American Samoa ASA Darrya Tofa
3 MF American Samoa ASA Austin Kaleopa
4 MF Fiji FIJ Rajendra Singh
5 MF American Samoa ASA Kome Tomasi
6 MF American Samoa ASA Rock Kaleopa
7 FW Fiji FIJ Krishnan Chand
8 MF American Samoa ASA Lale Harrington
9 FW American Samoa ASA Simon Godinet
10 MF American Samoa ASA Iopu Tiatia
11 MF American Samoa ASA Mark Nelisi
12 DF American Samoa ASA Neemia Kaleopa
No. Pos. Nation Player
14 MF Samoa SAM Paulo Bourne
15 DF American Samoa ASA Setefano Taavili
16 DF American Samoa ASA TJ Fagaima
17 DF American Samoa ASA Sione Moeaki
18 GK American Samoa ASA Peter Harrington
19 MF American Samoa ASA Barry Taito
20 DF American Samoa ASA Pesamino Victor
21 DF American Samoa ASA Tuala Faatonu
22 DF American Samoa ASA Elama Faatonu
23 GK American Samoa ASA Tovia Lafaele
24 MF American Samoa ASA Palauni Tapusoa
25 MF American Samoa ASA Shane Taupau

Honors
2014, 2015
2014 , 2015 , 2016

Oceania record

Summary
Competition Pld W D L GF GA Last season played
OFC Champions League 6 1 0 5 11 27 2017

By season
Season Competition Round Opponent Neutral
2016 OFC Champions League 2016 R1 Samoa Kiwi 2-6
R1 Tonga Veitongo 3-2
R1 Cook Islands Tupapa Maraerenga 1-9
2017 OFC Champions League 2017 R1 Samoa Lupe o le Soaga 3-4
R1 Tonga Veitongo 1-3
R1 Cook Islands Puaikura 1-3

References
  1. "Utulei champions of men's FFAS National League". FFAS.as. Football Federation American Samoa. 11 November 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  2. Vitolio, Brian (5 December 2014). "Utulei Youth wins President's Cup in 2–1 thriller". Samoa News. Osini Faleatasi Inc. Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. 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. Vitolio, Brian (10 December 2015). "Utulei Youth repeats as double champions". Samoa News. Osini Faleatasi Inc. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  8. "FFAS National League Senior Men 2022". fijifootball.com.fj. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
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