Striker Pekay Edwards has been given an opportunity to attend Mount Albert Grammar School in Auckland, New Zealand where he will further his football dream alongside his education.
CIFA Technical Director Tuka Tisam says the talented young player is being offered a great opportunity to further his football career.
Tisam says identifying quality players is the easy part, but giving it the platform to flourish and realise its potential is more difficult, which is why the scholarship is so important to the local game.
“Edwards has the capability to increase his football abilities and confidence while at Mount Albert Grammar,” Tisam says.
Edwards, originally from Atiu, was selected during the 2011 National Youth Championship to attend CIFA’s U-16 Boy’s Academy in 2012 while attending Tereora College. That programme brought talented players from around the country together to be coached in preparation for the OFC U-17 Championship Preliminary which was held in Samoa in early 2013.
He became the top goal scorer in the 2013 Rarotonga U-17 Men’s Competition and was instrumental to the success of the Puaikura FC U-17 Men’s team securing the Round Cup. Edwards also played a pivotal role in the club’s Premier Men’s side who took out the 2013 Rarotonga Premier Men’s Championship to earn a spot in the next OFC Champions League Preliminary.
At international level Edwards helped guide the Cook Islands U-17 team to victory in the preliminary tournament to earn qualification for the OFC U-17 Championship held in Vanuatu during April of 2013.
The CIFA Scholarship scheme has been up-and-running for ten years and has nurtured many young footballers who are now involved at club level, and internationally over the years.
For more on Cook Islands football go to www.cookislandsfootball.com

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