The squad has a strong Rarotongan presence with 12 local players included while the remainder of the group is made up of players based in New Zealand and Australia.
Coach Tillotson thinks the Games offer a great opportunity for each member of the team.
“This prestigious tournament gives the Cook Islands players a chance to test their footballing skills against some of the top countries in the Pacific.”
He says the Cook Islanders will be looking to punch above their weight in terms of competing against countries with much larger populations, superior resources and more established football cultures.
Tillotson, who played 15 matches for New Zealand between 1972 and 1975, believes the players are in good shape and are capable of causing some upsets in New Caledonia.
“The local players have sustained their fitness levels after the five-a-side season concluded by continuing with a demanding training schedule which includes technical and tactical work. A weekly 11-a-side game is also programmed into their agenda,” he says.
Cook Islands have been drawn in Group B for the Pacific Games and will come up against Fiji, Tahiti, Papua New Guinea and Kiribati.
Along with Kiribati, they are the underdogs of the group and have not been sighted on the international stage since 1999, when they played two games against Tonga. The teams proved to be closely matched on that occasion, the Cook Islands just shading the series after posting a win and a draw.
They faced both Fiji and Tahiti at the last Pacific Games in Samoa four years ago but fell to defeats in both matches, losing 4-0 to Fiji and 1-0 to Tahiti. The 2007 squad did manage one win though, a 4-1 triumph over Tuvalu, and will be hoping to post some similar successes this time.
To help achieve this goal, Tillotson will be able to draw upon the coaching experience of two of his players, Tony Jamieson and Tuka Tisam.
Jamieson attended an OFC national team coaches workshop in Samoa on Tillotson’s behalf last week while Tisam led the Cook Islands through its OFC U-17 Championship campaign in Auckland during January.
Cook Islands men’s squad for Pacific Games
Tony JAMIESON (New Zealand)
Ngatokorua ELIKANA (Avatiu)
John PAREANGA (Matavera)
Mii JOSEPH (Tupapa)
Tahiri ELIKANA (Avatiu)
Allan BOERE (New Zealand)
Nathan TISAM (Nikao)
Branden TUREPU (Tupapa)
Campbell BEST (Tupapa)
Nicholas FUNNELL (Australia)
Grover HARMON (Tupapa)
Roger MANUEL (Tupapa)
Joseph NGAUORA (Australia)
Taylor SAGHABI (Australia)
Tuka TISAM (Nikao)
Anoanga TISAM (Nikao)
John MICHAEL QUIJANO (Nikao)
Eugiene TATUAVA (Tupapa)
Coach: Maurice TILLOTSON
Manager: Paul TUREPU
For more on Cook Islands football go to www.cookislandsfootball.com