The 2021 Cook Islands Beach Games Beach Football Competition was held last week Thursday through to Saturday, an intense three-day competition. A total of 22 teams registered their interest for the competition, the excitement was surreal and was a real crowd pleaser for the spectators and player’s alike as this is their first time delving into the sport of Beach Soccer.
Featuring in the Gold and Silver Medal match in the Men’s division, Tupapa’s Black Wolves and White Wolves. Black Wolves were first on the scoreboard with a spectacular goal from the left foot of Anthony Samuela. The White Wolves were quick to return fire when Maru Tearaitoa equalized before the end of the first half. As the second half was underway another shot made it past the White Wolves keeper from Grover Harmon.
Attempts at goal were seen everywhere on the field in the second half as both teams tried to capitalize on the other to either maintain their lead for the Black Wolves, or in the case of the White Wolves overtake their rivals to win the match. The White Wolves tried their best to even the scores and force the 3 mins of extra time to defeat their village rivals, but were unsuccessful in their attempts, giving the Black Wolves the title of Men’s Beach Soccer Champions for 2021.
The finals for the women’s team saw the Spice Girls from Puaikura and Ladies in Black from Tupapa take the pitch to battle it out for the gold and silver medal. Spice Girls took the lead in the first half with Victoria Fatiaki scoring the opening goal putting them at an advantage with a win in their sights. Not too long after Marissa Iroa Temata Harmon-Tuara from the Ladies in Black came back to even the scores as the game intensified. Following her lead to gain the upper hand in the match was Marissa Iroa putting the Ladies in Black at 2 goals to 1. The final nail in the coffin came from Tupou Patia-Brogan to put the Ladies in Black at 3 goals to 1 naming them the first winners of the Beach Soccer Tournament.
The men’s semi-final saw the Stacks Men’s team take on The Wantoks in what was a thriller of a game. A 5 all draw took the game into 3 minutes of overtime when eventually the Stacks team came out on top to take the bronze medal. In the Semi Finals for the women’s playing for the bronze medal saw, Team Stacks and The Vibers play off with The Vibers dominating the game ending the match at a 5 – 1 win, taking the bronze medal with ease.
CIFA Competition Manager Pauline Dean had this to comment, “It was a successful 3-day tournament considering it is the first of its kind here in the Cook Islands and we are looking forward to more tournaments for beach soccer in the years to come. I would like to congratulate all the teams that participated in the competition and another congratulations to the Black Wolves and Ladies in Black as the winners of our first beach soccer competition.”
With one more week of beach games to come, the excitement is still in the air for the next beach games in 2022 as football hopes to make another epic appearance.
