LAUTOKA – The Cook Island’s Olympic squad is set to embark on a huge challenge ahead of their opening match of the OFC Men’s Olympic Football Tournament in Lautoka, Fiji.
Their campaign begins on Saturday against Vanuatu, a challenge coach Tim Jerks is excited and realistic about.
“We will go into every game with a positive outlook, while also being realistic about what we want to achieve,” said Jerks.
“Our goals for the tournament are performance based.
"It’s necessary for the development of our game to put ourselves out there and this tournament will be a good measure to find where we’re at.”
The Cook Islands don’t have the luxury of a large resource pool to select their talent from and Jerks noted that his squad contains a few wildcards.
“The Cook Islands has a population of 12,000. From that there is a playing population of about 1,000 and we have to select a team out of that.
"For these guys to just be here and have this experience is great for them and for Cook Islands Football.”
The side received a setback in the build up to the tournament when influential skipper Adrian Shepard picked up an injury which will keep him out of the first game, though Jerks (pictured below)is hopeful he will play a part in the tournament.
He will be looking to the experience of Thomas Le Mouton and Vice Captain Augusty Bataillard – who are among six players that represented the Cooks at the South Pacific Games last year – to provide leadership roles in the squad.
“To succeed at this tournament we need to be able to tactically stick to our game plan, staying organised and disciplined,” Jerks said.
“Without the playing tool to test the players it proves the development process worthless, so I am very excited for the tournament to begin."
The OFC Olympic Football Tournament kicks off on Saturday March 1 in Lautoka Fiji.