Puaikura Football Club has claimed the Van’s Premier Men’s Round Cup 2016 championship title and has earned a spot at the OFC Champions League Preliminary in Tonga next year.
It has been one of the best seasons for the Puaikura premier men’s side, who maintained an unbeaten run in their division to stay ahead of the competition this year.
With a game in hand to go, the Anthony Samuela-coached team has already won nine and drawn two matches out of 11 all season including their recent 4-0 victory over Avatiu last Saturday.
They will go on to play their final match in the round on Saturday against Titikaveka, before shifting focus to the Knockout competition next week.
The side has invested a lot of hard-work into their season and it has all paid off with the team now preparing for Tonga in January.
It is the second time Puaikura FC has won the Round Cup championship title, with their last one being in 2013 when they also went on to represent the nation for the first time at the Oceania Champions League Preliminary in Samoa.
Puaikura also claimed the premier men’s pre-season title in August, which indicated a new wave of football competition was expected in the Cook Islands Football Association’s main season- they achieved just that with top class performances.
CIFA would like to congratulate the winners of the 2016 Van’s Premiership title and bid them a successful OCL Preliminary campaign in Tonga.
Meanwhile, the final clashes in the Round cup competition will kick off today with the junior divisions at 4:00pm.
The Prime Foods Under 8 and U11 Mixed and the Under 17 Men’s divisions will take the pitch for the last time in the 14-week tournament.
Puaikura will battle it out with Titikaveka, while Matavera goes head-to-head with Avatiu. Tupapa Maraerenga will challenge Nikao Sokattak.
Games will be played at the CIFA Complex and Takitumu school grounds.
Wednesday, 23/11/16 at the CIFA complex, Matavera
CIFA Field 1: Under 11 Mix
4.00pm Field 1 Tupapa Maraerenga FC vs Nikao Sokattak FC
Ref: Noel Mani
Field 2 Avatiu FC vs Matavera FC
Ref: Emily Pierce
Field 3 Puaikura FC vs Titikaveka FC
Ref: Matthew Browne
CIFA Field 2: Under 8 Mix
4.00pm Field 1 Tupapa Maraerenga FC vs Nikao Sokattak FC
Ref: Ngametua Taringa
Field 2 Avatiu FC vs Matavera FC
Ref: Tanisha Tangimetua
Field 3 Puaikura FC vs Titikaveka FC
Ref: Amnish Prasad
Under 17 Men, kick off 4.30pm
CIFA Field 1 Tupapa Maraerenga FC vs Nikao Sokattak FC
Ref: John Pareanga Assist: Noel Mani, Amnish Prasad
CIFA Field 2 Avatiu FC vs Matavera FC
Ref: Lai Gukisuva Assist: Ngametua Taringa, Emilie Pierce
Takitumu School Puaikura FC vs Titikaveka FC
Ref: Tupou Patia Assist: Mata Iroa, Maara Kaukura
Puaikura FC captain Fari’i Moekapiti with the Van’s Premier Men’s Trophy presented by Mere Rairoa.
