If you’ve been to a Peekskill Varsity Boys soccer game at Torpy Field this season, chances are you’ve heard the game announcer scream, “Peekskill gooooooal! Scored by Umaru Conteh!” several times. The phenomenal season the Peekskill Varsity Boys Soccer team had this year was due in no small part to forward Umaru Conteh. He is one of the leading scorers Peekskill soccer has seen in many seasons, achieving 25 goals this year alone.
Conteh, 16, has an inimitable style on the field, easily evading the defensive plays of other teams. His ability to strike a ball with either his left or right foot, his speed, and his composure have made him one of Section 1 Class AA’s most exciting players this year.
This season, Conteh’s teammates have relied on him heavily to deliver goals and he has not disappointed. “As a winger, whenever I cross the ball I know Umaru will get a shot on goal and give us a lead,” said Daniel Farez Sierra, senior captain of the Peekskill Boys Soccer team.
“He has many great attributes like winning balls in the air, his speed, his control and finishing. He is a very valuable player in our attack,” he added. Conteh is likened to the famous French soccer player Thierry Henry by many of his teammates.
Peekskill Boys Soccer Assistant Coach Jamie Guevara noted that, “Umaru Conteh is an exceptional talent, who has truly made a mark this season. Umaru’s impressive goal tally reflects his dedication, tactical awareness, and natural understanding of the game.”
“Umaru is not just an incredible athlete but an incredible individual off the field. His humility, work ethic, and strive to always be better sets him apart as a role model for the younger generation to look up to.”
Conteh’s impressive goal tally this year is a culmination of hard work, dedication, and persistence.
Early years
Conteh is of Sierra Leonean descent and was born in 2007 in the Bronx. He has two siblings, an older brother, Gibrill, and a younger sister, Isata. Conteh’s family moved to Peekskill when he was four. His father first introduced him to soccer when he was five. From there, he played with his older brother and cousin, slowly falling in love with the sport. Soon after, Conteh enrolled in little league soccer.
In seventh grade, Conteh took his love for soccer to the next level. His friend Daniel Farez Sierra, who was playing with Real Olé Football Club (a soccer travel team), informed Conteh that his team was in need of a forward and suggested he join. Conteh, who is described by many as someone who is always looking to improve, jumped on the opportunity to better his soccer skills. He tried out and made the team. Five years later, Conteh continues to play with Real Olé FC.
Real Olé coach Robert Alvarez noted that Conteh’s dedication to the sport is inspiring, “As the saying goes ‘The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching’. Umaru is exactly that. He is hope and inspiration to all kids out there that travel for training.” Conteh and several other Peekskill kids travel regularly to Lagrange to train with Real Olé.
As a freshman in high school, Conteh played on the Junior Varsity boys soccer team. But as a sophomore, Conteh sustained a foot injury which prevented him from playing. Conteh was out of action for three months and recalls this experience being devastating. While he had to miss the high school soccer season, Conteh was able to recover just in time for the club soccer season.
Then last year, as a junior, Conteh made the Peekskill Varsity Boys Soccer team. By Conteh’s standards, he had a decent debut season, scoring 11 goals and providing one assist. He received the All-League award for his performances. The team as a whole had a mixed campaign, which ended with a first round sectional defeat to Fox Lane.
2024 breakout season
For the first time in years, Peekskill soccer is on the map once again, thanks to Conteh and his teammates. The team finished the season with a record of 12 wins, two losses, and two draws. The Peekskill boys made history this season when they made it to the semifinals of sectionals, becoming the first Peekskill soccer team in over 40 years to do so. Unfortunately, the Red Devils were eliminated by Fox Lane again this year, this time in the semifinals.
“Peekskill hasn’t won in sectionals in a while. It feels good to make history for the school district we’ve been in since we were all little kids,” said Conteh.
Conteh revealed the secret to the team’s success this season. “This season, we weren’t focusing too much on other teams, we were focusing more on our game. In practice we focused on the mistakes we made in games and I think this helped us a lot this year.”
He finished the season as Peekskill’s top goalscorer with 25 goals. While Conteh is grateful for all the plaudits he receives, he credits all his success this season to his teammates. “I think we all are playing good this season and my teammates are the reason for the amount of goals I have,” he said.
The biggest challenge the Peekskill boys faced this year was Ardsley. When the two teams first met this season, Ardsely walked away with a 2-0 win over Peekskill. Following this defeat, the boys went back to the drawing board and when the two teams met again several weeks later, the match went very differently. Conteh says this game was one of his favorites of the season because he played a vital role in helping the team secure a 2-2 tie. In that game, Ardsley gained a goal early in the first half. However, in the last minute of the half, Conteh was released one on one against Ardsley’s goalkeeper and scored a thunderous equalizer with his left foot, which sent Peekskill fans crazy.
“Everyone was cheering us on. The atmosphere was great. We didn’t get the result we wanted but we played with our hearts that day,” recalled Conteh.
Next year, the Peekskill boys will lose 19 seniors from this historic team. Conteh says that fans should not worry and that the soccer program is in good hands. “We have a couple good players coming up like Maddox Lozada, Melvin Criollo, and Jonathan Farez. I think they’ll definitely live up to the name we made for ourselves this year,” he said.
Life outside of soccer
These young players are also students, which means that academics comes first. Conteh knows the importance of prioritizing school. “My parents are, ‘school first’. If I don’t do good in school, I can’t do sports.”
Knowing how his team relies on him, Conteh makes sure to always be on top of his work. “I make sure to get all my classwork and homework done while I’m in school so I don’t have to worry about it later.”
When he’s not playing on the field, Conteh is always finding ways to improve himself. After a typical training session, Conteh reveals that he goes home and continues to exercise, performing sit ups and push ups. His favorite form of relaxation is taking ice baths whenever he is sore.
For fun, Conteh and his teammates enjoy playing video games, especially FIFA (a soccer video game), and going out to eat. But what Conteh enjoys the most is spending time with his loved ones. “I like to spend time with my family. I’m a family person. I’m always with my family,” says Conteh.
Conteh is also a member of the Black Diamonds, which is an academic success program that prepares young men of color for life after high school.
Martin McDonald, executive director of the Black Diamonds, noted Conteh’s dedication. “Umaru is a solid young man, very much family oriented. Incredible work ethic towards what he wants to involve himself in. He’s a leader and a role model for younger students in the district,”
“I think he has a bright future. As bright as his future is in soccer, I think his future is equally as bright in whatever career endeavor he chooses,” McDonald added.
At the moment, Conteh has not yet decided what college he will be attending next fall. Conteh plans to major in either cyber security or mechanical engineering. But Conteh is sure he will pursue college soccer next year.
While the high school soccer season may be over now and players are taking much needed breaks, Conteh is gearing up for winter and spring soccer with Real Ole Fc. His journey is only just beginning.
