Hundreds of youngsters descended on the CIFA headquarters in Matavera yesterday as the competition for Year 7 and 8 students got underway.
Seven school teams – Avarua, Nikao, Avatea, Titikaveka, Nukutere, Papaaroa and Arorangi – have registered their interest in the girl’s division while eight schools – Avarua, Nikao, Avatea, Titikaveka, Nukutere, Te Uki Ou, Arorangi and Papaaroa – have entered in the boy’s category.
Both the boys and girls divisions are split into two groups where each side will play each other once to determine which school will go through to the play offs before heading to the finals to find the winner.
CIFA technical department members Tuka Tisam, Tahiri Elikana and Anthony Samuel have visited all the participating schools over the past five weeks, coaching and polishing the players football skills in preparation for the annual tournament.
“The students are excited that they will finally get to show off their skills and play against their peers,” Tisam says.
“No doubt there will be some schools out for vengeance following last year’s competition but, all in all, there will be lots of fun had and plenty of football action from our junior footballers.
“This annual competition will also provide us in the technical department with the opportunity to select players to participate in the development programmes that we will be coordinating later in the year,” he says.
Avarua School won the first Senior Primary School competition in both the boys and girls division when it kicked off in 2009 while Nikao Primary School confidently stole the title in 2010 in the senior boys division and Avarua senior girls made it two in a row for their school.
The 2012 Senior Boys winner, Avatea, posted a 3-1 win over combined school Te Uki Ou/Imanuela in the final while first-time winner Arorangi Senior Girl’ claimed the 2012 trophy after defeating two-time champions Avarua 3-2 in an exciting match.
For more on Cook Islands football go to www.cookislandsfootball.com

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