Samoa’s performance at the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship in Tahiti has been nothing short of astonishing.
The side is playing off for fifth and 6th against Cook Islands having come within 12 agonising minutes of qualifying for a first ever semi-final at this level.
15-year-old Dante Leota has been a key part coach Valerie Raccuglia’s sides success at the tournament in Tahiti.
One of eight players born in New Zealand, (12 born in Samoa and three in Australia) Leota’s family has been living in Abu Dhabi for the past seven years, where his parents work as physical education teachers. Leota has been at boarding school in England for two years, primarily for his football.
He comes from a sporting family with Dad (Charles) representing New Zealand in Beach Volleyball.
Growing up in Tauranga on New Zealand’s East Coast, Dante started playing football aged four, his family moved to the UAE when he was eight.
Leota says his dad has been a driving force in his football development and was determined to send him to a top ‘football school’ in the UK to continue his studies and develop his footballing talent.
Dante explains: “One of my best friends at school in the UAE suggested Brooke house College in Leicester, because it had a terrific football academy.”
“So, I was fortunate to get a scholarship there for the past two years. I lived and breathed football and learned a lot about team chemistry. You get to know your teammates better each day because you stay with them all the time.
“I was training pretty much every day, started school at 8 o’clock and trained from 2pm to p.m. and then it was dinner and sometimes a gym session. We’d train five or six times a week.” Leota said.
“I’d say what I’ve learned most (in England) is team chemistry. Throughout the back line, that’s all you need to do, is communicate whether you come over or you stay.
That determines if there are goals or not, because if you don’t communicate, then there’s going to be serious problems throughout that back line.” He explained.
Leota is returning to the UAE to be with his family after the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship and will concentrate on finishing his studies in Abu Dhabi before looking at the next step in his football journey.
Leota has learned plenty playing for a side that has punched above its weight in Papeete.
The Samoans only had a handful of training sessions together before their first match and shocked New Caledonia 2-0. They followed up with a 3-1 defeat by Solomon Islands after leading 1-0 after 64 minutes. And they finally succumbed 2-1 to Tahiti, conceding the decisive goal 12 minutes from full-time which saw them just miss the semi-finals on goal difference.
“I mean, it’s hard, eh, some real heartbreak and even though I got player of the match (against Tahiti) I still felt empty inside.” Leota said.
That said Leota has enjoyed embracing the rich Samoan culture.
“I love how we pray before every game, it makes us feel strong inside and builds a good culture, like we’re Samoan and we are here to win.” Leota said.
He describes his speed and his communication as strengths while ‘fitness’ is an area he needs to improve.
“My ultimate goal to play professionally, mainly in the Premier League. My dream club is to play for Liverpool.”