The Rakahanga sports association will be receiving a boost of football equipment when it arrives on the next shipment to the Island.
The Cook Islands Football Association have kindly donated a variety of football equipment to the island’s sports association to help rebuild the sport on the island and to provide more sporting activities for the people of Rakahanga.
The island will receive, goals, balls, sportswear, cones and more. There to receive the equipment at the official handover earlier in the week was committee member Tupou Banaba who expressed his gratitude to the Cook Islands Football Association and to key people involved saying “It’s huge for the island to receive these gifts from CIFA, because I think it has been a long time since we have received something. So, I think it’s huge for the island and I think it’ll help build up the sport on the island.”
“There are heaps of kids playing football in Rakahanga. When I went back in 2017, they had a five-a-side soccer tournament and all the kids from young to old they enjoyed playing soccer, even the girls and the mama’s. All the people in Rakahanga, the kids, the youth, the elders, they like playing soccer and I think this donation will help them a lot in the future.” He said.
“About twelve years ago I was the president for the sports association in Rakahanga and Lee and I were close during my time as president and we built up five-a-side soccer on the island. And when I went back in 2017 the island was still playing soccer which was good to see but I don’t think they’ve received any equipment from Rarotonga or any other organization, but now that we are receiving these gifts I think it’s a huge step forward for Rakahanga soccer.” He explained.
“I’d just like to say thank you to CIFA for the donation and to Tina Brown because I believe she helped when making the request for these gifts. I’d also like to thank Apolo Piho, the president for our sports association in Rakahanga for looking after the sports in Rakahanga. And of course, the Rakahanga people would like to say thank you to CIFA for all the stuff you have given us.” Expressed Tupou Banaba
