Imports boost Tupapa’s morale

Curious football followers would have noted the presence of three New Zealand-based players at the start of the Rarotonga’s premier football competition.

Leonardo Berlim, Hone Fowler and Rhys Ruka all play their trade for Manukau City FC in Auckland’s division two competition.

But it was their assistance during Tupapa-Maraerenga’s recent campaign in the O-League preliminary tournament that saw them rewarded with a two-week footballing holiday.

It meant the trio were also able to get on the park for their Rarotongan club for the first few weeks of the football season before they returned to Auckland three weeks ago.

Tupapa-Maraerenga president John-Paul Wilson said rewarding the three players was the main reason for their trip to the Cook Islands.

“It was just a good gesture just to bring them down for a break, for a holiday, to see this place.”

A good relationship with Manukau City coach and former Tupapa-Maraerenga player Ricardo Espinoza saw an exchange of sorts between the two teams that ended up with Berlim, Fowler and Ruka all enlisted to the side.

“It has been a good relationship between us and the guys on that side,” the Tupapa president said.

There were plenty of benefits for both parties, with the Kiwi trio having the chance to live in paradise while the kids were quick to pick up some of their skills.

“It was good for the kids to watch them,” Wilson said.

“That’s why we tried to get them, for the morale of the players, especially the young ones. They really enjoyed those guys down there and seeing the difference in the way they play.”

Wilson remained coy on whether the three Kiwis would return for the finals in due course.

“It depends on if we can afford it again.”