Cook Islands Football Association

As part of CIFA’s ongoing development of elite football players, three young players has left for New Zealand yesterday.  The three players picked for this year’s football scholarship are Opura Emile Mamanu, Terii Framhein and Clark Ngaau. 

Opura is in his second year in the program while Clark and Terii will be attending Mt Albert Grammar for the first time.  Excitement showing on the faces of these young players and for their proud parents to be a part it.

“We believe that this is a very good opportunity for these players to experience and to explore of what this scholarship program is all about”, CIFA President, Lee said.

In the past years other elite players has also been given this great opportunity and has returned and are currently showcasing what they have experienced and have given that back to their local clubs and even CIFA’s National Team. 

Mona Ngaau, Clark Ngaau (recipient), Carl Framhein, Terii Framhein (recipient), Opura Mamanu (recipient) and Nga Emile

Photo by CIFA

Cook Islands with their silver medal, U-20 Women's OFC Qualifying Championship
Photo by OFC

In the third and final match day of the Oceania U-20 Women's Championship the Cook Islands defeated American Samoa by 4 goals to nil.

The Cooks who were in control of the match from the first whistle went on to score three unanswered goals in the first half through their powerful left foot striker Regina Mustonen. In the second half the team continued their dominance with their midfield players supplying Mustonen again with another goal scoring opportunity to bring the final score to 4-0. 

During the game the Cook Island team missed several goal scoring opportunities, however the 4-0 result against American Samoa and the heavy loss of Tonga to hot favorites New Zealand by 11-0 ensured the Cook Islands second place in the Oceania Football Championship Tournament. 

The team was well supported by family members and friends from around the Auckland region. 

The management and players would like to thank all those for sending messages of support for the team.


CIFA Media

 Tupou Patia, one of the local woman referee has been selected to officiate in the U20 Women’s soccer tournament to be held in New Zealand and has her sights set on an experience at the OFC U-20 Women’s Championship starting 21 – 25 January.

She is the first Cook Islands Women’s Referee to officiate at an international tournament and fitness has played a major factor in her preparation.  Tupou will be Cook Island’s lone representative at the event which will be held at Auckland’s North Harbour Stadium and involves American Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands and New Zealand as hosts and favorites to win.

 
The teams from American Samoa, Cook Islands, Tonga and New Zealand will be competing for a place at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Germany this July.

 
“This is an exciting opportunity and experience for me to be selected to officiate at this U-20 qualifying tournament,” she said. 

 
Tupou has left for New Zealand with the U-20 Women’s team on Sunday 17 January.

CIFA believes that this tournament will be of great exposure and development for up and coming referees such as Tupou.  This is an achievement by Tupou due to her commitment to the sport of football.  She has also represented the country in international tournaments as a player.

 
CIFA Media

The Cook Islands U-20 Women’s squad has been in preparation for the upcoming U-20 Women’s Soccer qualifying tournament which will be held in Auckland, New Zealand from 21-25 January 2010. Despite having 3 players changed since their training squad in August 2009 the final squad excels with more confidence and determination in showcasing what they have been training for.

Originally scheduled for October last year, the OFC qualifying event had to be postponed due to the earthquake and tsunami disaster that struck American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga last September.

The players from American Samoa, Cook Islands, New Zealand and Tonga will compete from 21-25 January for a place at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Germany this July. The round-robin competition will be played on 21, 23 and 25 January with all six matches taking place on North Harbour Stadium’s Domain 3 (artificial turf).

The U-20 squad includes 12 players from Rarotonga, 3 players from Aitutaki and 3 players from New Zealand:

Majorie Toru, Jennifer Akavi, Tasha Dean, Kim Tare, Marii Kaukura, Marisa Iroa, Teriivahine Henry, Louisa Manico, Elizabeth Harmon, Regina Mustonen, Danielle Trego, Tepaeru Trego, Leiana Temata, Linade Unuka, Stephanie Lineen, Apii Nichols, Elva Mamia Upu and Raivaru Nganu.

The team is Coached by Jimmy Katoa and assisted by Michelle Paiti, Managed by John Taripo.

Team Management and CIFA would like to thank the parents and guardians for their continuous support towards the team.

Back Row (L –R): Jimmy Katoa (Coach), Leiana Temata, Jennifer Akavi, Regina Mustonen, Marjorie Toru, Teriivahine Henry, Tepaeru Trego, Kim Tare, Michelle Paiti (Assistant Coach)

Front Row (L-R): Marisa Iroa, Louisa Manico, Linade Unuka, Tasha Dean, Danielle Trego, Elizabeth Harmon, Marii Kaukura

Absent: Raivaru Nganu, John Taripo (Manager), Stephanie Lineen, Apii Nichols and Elva Mamia Upu (New Zealand based players)

Photograph by CIFA