James Lepaio | |
Birth Date: | 6 September 1992 |
Birth Place: | Funafuti, Tuvalu |
Position: | Midfielder |
Currentclub: | Tofaga FC |
Years1: | 2011–2021 |
Clubs1: | Tofaga |
Caps1: | 24 |
Goals1: | 30 |
Nationalyears1: | 2011–2018 |
Nationalteam1: | Tuvalu |
Nationalcaps1: | 9 |
Nationalgoals1: | 1 |
James Lepaio (born 6 September 1992) is a Tuvaluan footballer who plays as a left defensive midfielder who currently plays for Tofaga FC. He was a Tuvalu international player from 2011 to 2017.[1]
James joined Tofaga FC in 2008 and was selected for the reserve team (Tofaga B). The following year he was selected for the Tofaga A team. With Tofaga FC, he was the topscorer in the 2019 Tuvalu A-Division competition with 15 goals; again with Tofaga FC, in 2021 he was the equal topscorer with Alopua Petoa, with 9 goals. In 2023 Tofaga FC was the runner-up to Nauti F.C.. In the final of the NTP Cup, James scored twice, to win the game 2-1 against Vaoloa.[2]
James has also played nine games for the Tuvalu national football team, four of which were at the 2011 Pacific Games. He scored once against Solomon Islands.[3] [4]
James played for Tuvalu in the 2018 Conifa Paddy Power World Football Cup competition in venues around London in the United Kingdom.[5]