Alopua Petoa
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 Petoa lining up for Tuvalu in 2011 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 24 January 1990 | ||
| Place of birth | Nauru | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Tofaga[1] | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2012 | Tofaga | 22+ | (32+) |
| 2012 | Brabantia | ||
| 2013–2014 | Waitakere City | ||
| 2014–2018 | Tofaga | ||
| 2019 | Nanumaga[1] | ||
| 2020– | Tofaga[1] | (9+) | |
| International career | |||
| 2011–2019 | Tuvalu | 13 | (9) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Alopua Petoa (born 24 January 1990) is a footballer who plays as a forward for FC Tofaga. Born in Nauru, he represented the Tuvalu national team and is their all-time top scorer.[2]
Born in Nauru, Petoa started playing football at the age of ten before becoming a naturalized Tuvalu citizen and joining Vatokami in 2005 which would change its name to FC Tofaga the same year.[citation needed]
Club career
Alopua Petoa was the top scorer in the Tuvalu A-Division competition in 2012 and joint top scorer with James Lepaio in 2021.
In 2012, Petoa was discovered by Dutch manager Foppe de Haan and signed for Dutch side Brabantia along with Vaisua Liva, initially training with their reserve team.[3]
In 2013, he signed for New Zealand side Waitakere City with Vaisua Liva, becoming the first professional Tuvaluan players in history.[4]
International career
Petoa has been regarded as one of the best players in Tuvalu and is the all-time top scorer of the Tuvalu national team.[5]
On 22 August 2011, Petoa debuted for the Tuvalu national team during a 3–0 win over Samoa, scoring a hat-trick in what was Tuvalu's first international match in four years and their highest victory in history.[6]
In 2013 Petoa was called for a tour with Tuvalu football Team that took place in the Netherlands where he scored.[citation needed]
On 8 June 2018 at the CONIFA World Football Cup in London, Petoa scored two goals, putting Tuvalu ahead of Tamil Eelam, only for their opponents to stage a dramatic comeback in stoppage time to win 4–3.[7]
Style of play
Petoa mainly operates as a striker and is known for his dribbling.[8]
