The Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) hosted a ceremony last week to receive a shipment of goods from the Reagan Milstein Foundation, set up in honour of the 15-year-old Melbourne footballer who died in a scuba diving accident in Malaysia on the way home from the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
The foundation was formed to offer financial and moral support to Australian youth who may not have the opportunity or financial resources to play sport or be involved in a sports club.
It is the first time the Reagan Milstein Foundation has made a donation to the Cook Islands, having previously donated equipment to Tonga and Samoa.
Foundation CEO Kevin Milstein, Reagan’s father, thanked the officials in attendance at the ceremony – which included Associate Minister of Sports Hon. John Henry and Israeli Ambassador to the Cook Islands Shemi Tzur – and reiterated his foundation’s vision to provide opportunities for young people in the sport.
“It is my pleasure to be here today to give the football equipment to Cook Islands football,” he said.
“I am proud to see my son through football and the gear that young footballers will be wearing on the pitches, it is a gift from my heart.”
CIFA president Lee Harmon said it was sad to learn how Reagan had passed away at such a young age and touching to see how his father has gone out of his way to create the foundation and raise funds in remembrance of his son and the sport he loves.
“I don’t think many people would do what Kevin Milstein has done by forming this foundation and distributing the equipment to Pacific Island countries, including us here in the Cook Islands,” he says.
“What a blessing this is for our young children in the outer islands and primary schools here in Rarotonga.”
He added that the donation came at the right time as the federation’s stock of equipment, which they receive from FIFA, had depleted dramatically.
Harmon also thanked officials from the Cook Islands, New Zealand and the Reagan Milstein Foundation for negotiating the handover on behalf of the Cook Islands.
For more on Cook Islands football go to www.cookislandsfootball.com

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