Johnica Collins
Personal information
Date of birth (2006-01-12) 12 January 2006 (age 18)
Place of birth Pago Pago, American Samoa
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Pago Youth
Number 3
Youth career
0000–2022 Pago Youth
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Pago Youth
International career
2022– American Samoa U20 3 (0)
2023– American Samoa 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Johnica Collins (born January 12, 2006) is an American Samoa soccer player currently playing for FFAS Senior League club Pago Youth FC and the American Samoa national team.[1]

Club career

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At age 12, while a member of Pago Youth FC, Collins was one of two American Samoan children selected to travel to Moscow, Russia for five days to participate in the opening ceremony of the 2018 FIFA World Cup and watch the opening match between the hosts and Saudi Arabia.[2][3] As part of the event, he and the other representatives from each of FIFA's member associations participated in a three-day training camp. His team reached the quarterfinals of a tournament held as part of the event.[4] Collins played as goalkeeper during the tournament but decided to become a striker when he returned home.[5][6]

For the 2022 FFAS Senior League season, Collins scored thirteen league goals for Pago Youth FC.[7] He is still playing for the club as of 2023.[8][9]

International career

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At the youth level, Collins represented American Samoa in the 2022 OFC U-19 Championship and 2023 OFC U-17 Championship.[10][11] In the latter, he served as the team's captain in its two matches against New Zealand and New Caledonia.[12][13] Against New Zealand, Collins was identified as the team's main offensive threat, narrowly missing a self-made chance on goal in the second half.[14] In the match against New Caledonia, he almost scored from a direct free kick as the ball struck the post and nearly crossed the goal line.[15]

Personal

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Collins was born in Pago Pago. He has two brothers who also play soccer, Joseph who represented American Samoa in the 2018 OFC U-19 Championship, and Poasa.[5][16]

References

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  1. ^ "Soccerway profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Pacific kids to feature in World Cup opening ceremony". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  3. ^ "Pacific Island kids to participate in FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Moscow here we come". talanei.com. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  5. ^ a b Vitolio, Brian. "Collins to fly A.S. flag at FIFA World Cup opening ceremony". Football Federation of American Samoa. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Johnica Collins flies American Samoa's flag at FIFA World Cup". Samoa News. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  7. ^ "FFAS National League Senior Men 2022". Fiji Football Association. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  8. ^ "New Zealand rotate starting line-up for second group game at OFC U-17 Championship". Friends of Football. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  9. ^ "FFAS National League Senior Men 2023". Fiji Football Association. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Squads Named for OFC U-19 Championship". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  11. ^ "Provisional Squads Named for OFC U-17 Championship 2023". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  12. ^ "New Zealand hammer American Samoa 11-0 to reach knockout stages". Friends of Football. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  13. ^ "New Caledonia vs. American Samoa". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  14. ^ "New Zealand Beat American Samoa 11-0 to Secure OFC U-17 Quarter Final Spot". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Second Half Effort Powers New Caledonia to Big Win". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  16. ^ "Johnica Collins steps into the FIFA World Cup arena". talanei.com. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
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