The USA Football’s ‘Team USA vs the World’ game brought together the best American football players aged 19 and under from around the world to Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The game matched up Team USA, made up of players committed to some of the nation’s top college football programs, with Team World – a team of players representing eight countries in four continents.
Among the group of very talented world players was American Samoa native Aiulua Fanene who immediately impressed in South Florida as the World team proved able to compete with traditional American football powerhouse United States only falling 17-0.
Fanene collected two tackles in the game.
Also impressed by Fanene’s talent, the University of Arizona recently presented Fanene will a full-scholarship to play football this coming fall for the Wildcats.
Fanene, whose brother Jonathan is a five-year NFL veteran defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals, was recruited by UA defensive line coach Mike Tuiasosopo. He knows the Fanene family after recruiting the older brother to Utah from the College of the Canyons in 2003 while an assistant for the Utes.
The 6-4 and 280 defensive tackle and offensive guard, Fanene played for Tafuna High School where he led his team to the Island Prep Championship his senior year. His team lost 7-6 in a defensive battle to the Samoana High School.
His senior year, he was named co-defensive player of the year and First-Team All-Samoa. His hard work and dedication also earned him a spot in the coveted Samoa-Hawaii All-Star Bowl where he started at offensive guard.
Aiulua, who is one of 12 children, proved that hard work really does pay off as he will continue his football career this fall at the University of Arizona and IFAF would like to honor him by naming him the IFAF.org January Player of the Month.
Fanene and several other island players were featured in a CBS 60 Minutes feature, “Football Island”.
See the 60 Minutes feature by clicking here.