Apii Avarua to attend AIMS games

Forms 1 and 2 student of Apii Avarua departed for Tauranga, New Zealand yesterday afternoon to participate in the annual New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) Association of Intermediate and Middle Schools (AIMS) games set to commence on Monday (NZ time).

Twenty eight of those students will participate in the NZCT AIMS games in the football competition for Under 13 boys and girls category.

The football tournament will run for five days from Monday September 16 to Friday 20 (NZ time) at the Blake Park in Mt Mauanganui where the students will play three games each day in their pool.

A request from Avarua School to coach their students saw Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) technical staff Tahiri Elikana and Anthony Samuel conduct a training session twice a week for an hour and a half. The training sessions included dribbling, passing, game plans and finishing off with a game.

Avarua teacher Latiola Mateariki is very pleased at the students’ progress since July and is confident that they will do well at the tournament although this will be their first attendance at such an event.

“We have seen the improvement of the students at the training sessions with CIFA and we believe what they have learnt from Tahiri and Anthony will help us tremendously at the tournament,” says Mateariki.

“The kids are excited to participate in this tournament and we are looking forward to the experience,” she says.

“We would like to thank CIFA in particular Tahiri and Anthony for taking the time to coach our students in preparation for this tournament.”

The games are a partnership between Sport Bay of Plenty, the four Western Bay Intermediate Schools and the Tauranga City Council.

The sporting championships give 11, 12 and 13 year olds an opportunity to compete as an individual or in a team against the best of their age in sixteen different sports and Apii Avarua will be participating in the football, tennis, sevens and netball category.

The aim of the event is to provide opportunities for the students in the middle years to compete at an elite level, be active, celebrate fair play and enjoy success and it is through events such as the games that these students will be provided with challenges and the opportunity to perform to a high standard.

Since their inception in 2004 the competition has grown from 760 competitors representing 17 schools and four sporting codes to the 2012 NZCT AIMS games were embraced by 164 schools from throughout New Zealand and two Australian schools and this year Apii Avarua will be the first school from the Cook Islands to participate in this event.

The under 13 girls football team consist of the following students: Helene Johnson, Teokotai Tupou, Nicole Marurai, Christina Areai, Isabelle Mana, Terahi Thompshon, Taina Tangaroa, Karienne Maurangi, Dawn Tokorangi, Mavalea Tangatataia, Natalia Tuaati, Tyrese Williams, Rosabelena Kautai and Royani Kauvai. Team is Mrs. Lotiola Mateariki and team manager is Rosina Numanga.

The under 13 boys football team consist of the following students: Charlie Thompson, Lee Harmon, Brian Akava, Andrew Herman, Graham Viking, Edward Hoff, Marcus Pierre, William Rani, Raiti Herman, Roimata Karika, Uwi Maro, Kayne Matapo, Toru Materariki and Dane Newnham. The team coach is Tapita Aiturau and managed by Tokoa Harmon.

Also accompanying the team is school principal Mona Herman and fellow teacher Rouru Motu with the support of parents who will be in New Zealand to cheer and encourage the students along.

The Cook Islands Football would like to wish the students of Apii Avarua the best of luck at the tournament.